Crosby Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Two Children

A 50-year-old Crosby man pleaded guilty yesterday in federal court to abusive sexual contact with his two great-nieces. Fabian Fransisco Spears was scheduled to begin his jury trial on March 9, 2010. Instead he appeared in front of United States District Court Judge Donovan Frank in St. Paul and pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact. In 2006, Spears was visiting his family on the Red Lake Indian Reservation and during the visit he sexually abused the two girls.

In his plea agreement, Spears admitted that from April 2006 through October 2006 he engaged in sexual contact with his two great nieces who were under the age of 12. Spears admitted he had abusive sexual contact with the girls on more than one occasion.

For his crimes, Spears faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison. Judge Frank will determine his sentence at a future date, yet to be scheduled. The federal government has primary law enforcement jurisdiction over the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Thus, this case is the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Tricia A. Tingle.