Alison J. Ramsdell U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota
A man from Porcupine, South Dakota, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for the sexual abuse of a minor. U.S. District Judge Karen E. Schreier handed down the sentence on May 30, 2025.
Chandler New Holy, aged 28, received his sentence following a guilty plea entered on January 17, 2025. Alongside his prison term, New Holy will undergo five years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The case against New Holy began with an indictment by a federal grand jury in February 2024. The charges stemmed from a relationship he had with a 14-year-old girl from his community. They communicated via social media where the girl initially claimed she was 16 years old. In turn, New Holy falsely stated he was only 17 when he was actually 25 at the time. Despite later learning her true age of 14, New Holy continued their relationship in secret until law enforcement intervened after she was reported missing by her family.
The prosecution fell under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act which requires certain violent crimes in Indian Country to be prosecuted federally rather than at the state level.
This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide. This project coordinates efforts among federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and rescue victims.
The investigation into this matter was conducted by the FBI and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen.
Following sentencing, Chandler New Holy was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
