United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Eagle Butte, South Dakota, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Felony Child Abuse.

Jordyn Blue Coat, a/k/a Jordyn Swan, age 21, and Francis Swan, age 25, were indicted by a federal grand jury on October 21, 2014. They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on October 24, 2014, and pled not guilty to the indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, three years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge stems from an allegation that between August 17, 2014, and October 17, 2014, at No Heart Housing near Eagle Butte, Blue Coat and Swan abused, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished a child under the age of seven years old.

The charge is merely an accusation and Blue Coat and Swan are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the South Dakota Department of Social Services, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.

Blue Coat and Swan were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has not been set.