Lower Brule Man Pleads Guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact
| U.S. Attorney’s Office December 07, 2012 |
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Merle Wilson, age 56, of Lower Brule, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on December 6, 2012, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with abusive sexual contact. The maximum penalty upon conviction is three years in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.
The conviction stems from an incident on July 31, 2012, when Merle Wilson knowingly engaged in sexual contact with the victim, who at the time was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and was physically incapable of declining participation in her unwillingness to engage in the sexual contact.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case. Wilson was released on bond pending sentencing. Sentencing has been set for February 25, 2013.