Fort Yates Man Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of a Child
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 28, 2010 |
BISMARCK—Acting United States Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on June 28, 2010, Patrick L. Big Shield, 52, of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of abusive sexual contact with a child under 12 years of age. Big Shield was found guilty by a federal jury on March 25, 2010.
Judge Hovland sentenced Big Shield to three years and five months in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. Big Shield must pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund and must register as a sex offender.
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 case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs-Standing Rock Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.