A federal jury in Durango, Colorado has convicted Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 59, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, on 15 counts related to sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. The United States Attorney for the District of Colorado announced that Wall was found guilty of sexually assaulting five victims, including a child.
During the trial, evidence showed that Wall posed as a traditional Native American healer or "medicine man." He used his role to exploit women on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation over at least twelve years. Prosecutors stated that Wall deceived his victims by incorporating elements of traditional Ute healing into ceremonies where he isolated and sexually abused them. He also warned victims that disclosing his actions would render their supposed healing ineffective.
Wall served on the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council after being elected in 2020 and is a former school board member in Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1. The jury heard testimony from five women who described incidents of abuse in Towaoc, Colorado. A sixth woman testified about alleged assaults by Wall in Alamosa and Lone Tree during 2020 and 2021; this testimony was admitted under rules allowing evidence of other similar acts.
Sentencing for Wall has not yet been scheduled. In addition to this federal case, he faces two separate sexual assault allegations pending in Colorado state court. Officials emphasized that those charges are only allegations at this stage and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
The FBI’s Durango office led the investigation with help from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves prosecuted the case before United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about additional possible victims to contact the FBI Denver office at (303) 629-7171.
