St. Francis Woman Indicted for Assault With a Dangerous Weapon and Child Abuse

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a St. Francis, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Child Abuse.

Tara Red Kettle, a/k/a Tera Red Kettle, age 20, was indicted on June 12, 2018.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 18, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on April 6, 2018, Red Kettle abused, exposed, tortured, tormented, and cruelly punished a child who had not attained the age of seven years old.

The charges are merely accusations and Red Kettle is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

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

Red Kettle was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.