Federal Jury Finds Red Lake Man Guilty of Sexually Abusing a Woman

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a jury found a 30-year-old Red Lake man guilty of sexually abusing a woman while on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. After less than two hours of deliberation, the jury convicted Douglas Wayne Tarnow of one count of aggravated sexual abuse. The conviction concluded the three-day trial of Tarnow, who was indicted on March 8, 2011.

According to the indictment and the evidence presented at trial, Tarnow caused the woman to engage in a sexual act by force. A law enforcement affidavit filed in the case states that Tarnow convinced the woman to meet him at his aunt’s residence on January 30, 2011. At 10:30 p.m., the woman arrived and she and Tarnow began arguing. During the course of that argument, Tarnow grabbed the woman, threw her to the ground, and assaulted her. He then forced her to have sex with him.

For his crime, Tarnow faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled.

This case is the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office and the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.