A Poplar man, Emmett Alfred Buckles, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor in federal court, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme. The incidents occurred on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.
Buckles faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and supervised release ranging from five years to life. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the hearing and will determine the sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing is scheduled for January 14, 2026. Buckles remains detained pending further proceedings.
Court documents state that in March 2024, Jane Doe 1 was forensically interviewed and disclosed she was sexually abused by Buckles. She described an incident on January 22, 2024, when she was between the ages of 12 and 16 and had been drinking and using drugs before Buckles contacted her via Facebook. Later that night at Buckles’ house in Poplar, he sexually abused her over several hours.
Law enforcement also reviewed Facebook messages between Buckles and Jane Doe 2, who was also between the ages of 12 and 16 at the time of the alleged offense. Doe 2 reported using methamphetamine with Buckles; she stated he injected her with meth before sexually assaulting her in January 2024. She provided a sketch of Buckles’ bedroom layout similar to Doe 1’s description.
Federal agents executed a search warrant at Buckles’ residence in Poplar and confirmed that details about his bedroom matched descriptions given by both victims.
The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case.
"Kurt G. Alme said: 'A Poplar man who sexual abused two victims on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges today.'"
