Southern Ute Tribal Member Sent to Federal Prison for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact

DENVER—Adam Frost, age 30, of Ignacio, Colorado, was sentenced yesterday in Durango by New Mexico Senior U.S. District Court Judge James A. Parker, sitting by designation, to serve 200 months (over 16 years) for aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. Following his term of incarceration, Judge Parker ordered Frost to serve 10 years of supervised release. Frost, who appeared at the hearing in custody, was remanded. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney John Walsh and FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Michael Rankin.

Frost was indicted by a federal grand jury in Denver on January 27, 2010. On October 22, 2010, he was found guilty of the crimes as indicted following a three-day trial. He was sentenced on March 17, 2011.

According to information presented at trial, on November 28, 2009, within the exterior boundaries of the Southern Ute Indian Reservation, Frost did knowingly and unlawfully engage in a sexual act with another person, using force. On that same date, Frost did knowingly and unlawfully engage in sexual contact with the same person mentioned in count one, without permission. The identity of the female victim is being withheld to protect her privacy.

“This case is another example of the Department of Justice’s continuing commitment to combat sexual abuse in Indian Country,” said U.S. Attorney John Walsh.

“We are pleased to see a lengthy sentence for this brutal assault,” said Michael Rankin, FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge in Denver. “The FBI will investigate such crimes on Indian Country reservations and will work on behalf of victims.”

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Southern Ute Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Todd Norvell, Dondi Osborne, and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Lammons.