Pine Ridge Man Charged with Aggravated Sexual Abuse

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

Charles Richards, Jr., age 49, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 60 years in a federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charge relates to Richards sexually abusing a female less than 12 years old at Pine Ridge, between June 15, 2019, and July 2, 2019.

The charge is merely an accusation and Richards is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen is prosecuting the case.

Richards was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for April 7, 2020.