Drew Rudy Whiteshield Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings on August 24, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, DREW RUDY WHITESHIELD, a 23-year-old resident of Lame Deer, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. Sentencing is set for November 24, 2009. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

During the summer of 2006, the victim was staying with WHITESHIELD'S mother in Lame Deer. At the time, the victim was 13 years old and WHITESHIELD was 20. After the summer, the victim returned to Oregon and, in December of 2006, she disclosed that she had been raped by WHITESHIELD. She said that she was in a downstairs bedroom, WHITESHIELD turned off the light, pushed her down on the bed and forced her to engage in sexual intercourse.

During the investigation, WHITESHIELD was interviewed and admitted that he had sexual intercourse with the victim at his mother's house. He claims that the sexual intercourse with the victim was consensual.

WHITESHIELD faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.