Fort Yates Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Child Abuse
| U.S. Attorney’s Office June 28, 2011 |
BISMARCK—United States Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on June 28, 2011, Gabriel L. Martin, 29, of Fort Yates, North Dakota, was sentenced by United States District Court Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of child abuse in Indian country. Martin pleaded guilty to the charge on January 13, 2011.
Judge Hovland sentenced Martin to 10 years in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Martin was ordered to pay restitution of $1298.52 and a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund. Martin must register as an offender against children.
In February 2010, Martin struck a child with a boot multiple times in the buttocks, lower back and thigh area, causing significant bruising to those areas of the child’s body. The matter came to attention of authorities when the child came to school with noticeable bruises, and school officials contacted medical personnel and law enforcement.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs - Standing Rock Agency and Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center.
Assistant United States Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.