Wakpala Man Sentenced on Sexual Abuse Charge

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wakpala man charged with aggravated sexual abuse was sentenced on April 25, 2011, by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann in Aberdeen. Walter S. Chasing Hawk, Jr., age 40, was sentenced to 720 months’ custody with no period of supervised release.

Chasing Hawk was indicted for aggravated sexual abuse by a federal grand jury in December 2009. Chasing Hawk pled guilty to count one of a superseding indictment in November 2010. Chasing Hawk admitted that between May 1, 1999, and September 30, 1999, he raped a boy under the age of 12 while living in McIntosh, South Dakota. He also admitted that between April 23 and May 20, 2007, while living with his sister in Wakpala, he committed the sexual act of touching a female child who was younger than 12.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman prosecuted the case.

Chasing Hawk was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.