Pine Ridge Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that Robert Dowty, Sr., age 57, was found guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor following a federal trial in Rapid City, South Dakota.

The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in federal prison, up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Evidence at trial established that between June and September of 2018, Dowty forcibly sexually assaulted a child under the age of 16 years.  Additional victims testified at trial that they also were sexually assaulted in the past by Dowty.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen prosecuted and tried the case.

A sentencing date is set for December 16, 2019.  Dowty was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending sentencing.