McLaughlin Man Charged with Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child and Sexual Contact.

Joseph Dallas Spotted Horse, age 61, was indicted on February 11, 2020.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on February 21, 2020, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, five years of supervised release, $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and restitution.

The Indictment alleges that in August of 2015, Spotted Horse knowingly engaged in sexual contact with a child who had not attained the age of 12 years.  The Indictment further alleges that Spotted Horse engaged in sexual contact with an individual who at the time was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and was physically incapable of declining participation in and communicating an unwillingness to engage in the abusive sexual contact.

The charges are merely accusations and Spotted Horse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper is prosecuting the case.  

Spotted Horse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.