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Press Release

Rapid City Man Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse of Juveniles

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Rapid City, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Assault and two counts of Abusive Sexual Contact.

Ira Little Bear, age 29, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison, lifetime supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The charges relate to Little Bear engaging in and attempting to engage in sexual contact and acts with juvenile females at Wounded Knee between 2015 and 2017.

The charges are merely accusations and Little Bear is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Cassandra DeCoste is prosecuting the case.

Little Bear was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has been set for October 8, 2019.

Updated August 8, 2019