Pine Ridge Man Pleads Guilty to Sexual Contact with Girl Under the Age of 12

RAPID CITY, SD—U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Wambli Yellow Bird, age 34, of Pine Ridge appeared before U.S. District Judge Richard H. Battey on July 20, 2010, and pled guilty to a two-count information that charged him with one count of abusive sexual contact of a child and one count of failure to update as a sex offender. The maximum penalty upon conviction of abusive sexual contact of a child is 10 years of imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine for each count. The maximum penalty upon conviction of failure to update as a sex offender is a term of five years minimum up to lifetime supervision. On or about May 19, 2009, Yellow Bird engaged in sexual contact with a girl under the age of 12 years while she was spending the night at a relative's home. Because Yellow Bird was convicted in state court of sexually abusing a juvenile previously, he had the obligation to register and update his sex offender registration, but he failed to do so. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for October 6, 2010. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.