United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Kyle, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact.
Darrell Janis, age 57, was indicted on Oct. 18, 2016. Janis appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on Oct. 21, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges relate to Janis using force to have sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years old, on Dec. 11, 2015, at Kyle.
The charges are merely accusations and Janis is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.
Janis was released on bond pending trial. A trial date has been set for Dec. 27, 2016.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)