Blackfoot Man Charged with Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child
| U.S. Attorney’s Office July 01, 2013 |
United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Blackfoot, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for abusive sexual contact with a child.
Ta-Sunka-hinz Thunder Hawk, a/k/a Hinzi Thunder Hawk, age 18, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 5, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 26, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; at least five years and up to life of supervised release; and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge relates to an alleged incident in Blackfoot where Thunder Hawk had sexual contact with a child under the age of 12. The charge is merely an accusation, and Thunder Hawk is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of investigation and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.
Thunder Hawk was released to a third-party custodian pending trial. A trial date has not been set.