Lawrence Merrick, Jr., 23, of Winnebago, Nebraska, was sentenced on July 24, 2015, in federal court in Omaha, Nebraska, for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child. The Honorable Joseph F. Bataillon, Senior United States District Court Judge, sentenced Merrick to 37 months’ imprisonment. After his release from prison, Merrick will begin a five-year term of supervised release. As a result of his conviction, Merrick will be required to register as a sex offender.

Merrick is a member of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska. He was staying at a residence within the Winnebago Reservation. On April 25, 2014, Merrick entered a bedroom where a nine-year-old girl was sleeping. He rubbed the buttocks of the child waking her up. She went to tell her mother and Merrick fled the home.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.