Fourteen-Year Sentence for Sexual Assault
| U.S. Attorney’s Office November 14, 2011 |
BISMARCK—United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on November 14, 2011, Patrick E. Zahn, 29, of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse by force. Zahn pleaded guilty to the charge on August 24, 2011.
Judge Hovland sentenced Zahn to 14 years in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release. Zahn was ordered to pay $1429.67 in restitution and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Zahn was ordered to register as a sex offender.
In pleading guilty, Zahn admitted to forcing a woman to participate in a sexual act on June 27, 2011, in Fort Yates.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs—Standing Rock Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Assistant United States Attorney Gary Delorme prosecuted the case.