Wanblee Man Re-Indicted on Multiple Sex Abuse Charges

RAPID CITY, SD—U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man has been re-indicted by a federal grand jury for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, abusive sexual contact of a child, failure to update as a sex offender, and assault of a federal officer. Wambli Yellow Bird, Sr., age 33, of Wanblee, was re-charged by a superseding indictment by a federal grand jury on April 20, 2010, for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, abusive sexual contact of a child, failure to update as a sex offender, and assault of a federal officer. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on April 22, 2010 and pled not guilty. The maximum penalty upon conviction is (1) mandatory life imprisonment for aggravated sexual abuse of a child, (2) any term of years up to life imprisonment for abusive sexual contact, (3) a minimum of five years up to 30 years' imprisonment for failure to update as a sex offender, and (4) eight years' imprisonment for assault of a federal officer. All counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000. The charges are merely accusations, and Yellow Bird is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case. Yellow Bird remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal. The trial is set for June 15, 2010.