Wounded Knee Man Indicted on Sexual Abuse and Contact Charges

United States Attorney Randolph J. Seiler announced that a Wounded Knee, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact.

Kelly Tyrell Bell, a/k/a Kelly Thunder Horse, age 26, was indicted on March 22, 2016. Bell appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on March 25, 2016, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

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

The charges relate to Bell engaging in a sexual act with an incapacitated person on January 22, 2016, at Kyle.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.

Bell was released on bond pending trial.  A trial date has been set for May 31, 2016.