Fourteen-Year Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Abuse Case
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 06, 2011 |
MINOT, ND—United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on January 4, 2011, Garrett L. DeCoteau, 36, of Belcourt, North Dakota, was sentenced before United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse. DeCoteau pleaded guilty to the charge on September 28, 2010.
Judge Hovland sentenced DeCoteau to 14 years in federal prison to be followed by five years of supervised release. DeCoteau was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund and restitution of $6,460.41. DeCoteau was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
On September 13, 2009, DeCoteau engaged in a sexual act with his victim after repeatedly threatening her and assaulting her at her home on the Turtle Mountain Reservation.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Bureau of Indian Affairs - Turtle Mountain Agency.
Assistant United States Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell prosecuted the case.