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Fort Yates Man Found Guilty of Sexual Abuse Charge

U.S. Attorney’s Office March 25, 2010
  • District of North Dakota (701) 297-7400

BISMARCK—Acting United States Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on March 25, 2010, Patrick L. Big Shield, 52, of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was found guilty by a federal jury in United States District Court on a charge of abusive sexual contact with a child under 12 years of age. United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland presided.

On July 3, 2009, at approximately 3:30 a.m., a child called 911 to report he was sexually abused by “Ghostman,” a nickname used by Big Shield. A Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer responded to the residence and discovered the child waiting at the front door of the residence wrapped in a bed sheet but otherwise wearing no clothing. Big Shield was located inside the residence on a couch in the living room. Big Shield was intoxicated. Two other intoxicated adults were found in the residence.

The charge of abusive sexual contact carries a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervised release.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs - Standing Rock Agency.

Sentencing for Big Shield has been scheduled for June 28, 2010, in United States District Court in Bismarck, North Dakota, at 3:00 p.m.

Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk is prosecuting the case.

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