Milan Lee Goudreaux Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on November 19, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, MILAN LEE GOUDREAUX, a 22-year-old resident of Birney, pled guilty to abusive sexual contact. Sentencing has been set for February 18, 2011. He is currently released on special conditions.

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:

In late September 2009, the victim, who was 6 years old at the time, disclosed to her grandmother and mother that her uncle, the defendant, had touched her vaginal area. Both her mother and grandmother saw redness and took the victim to the IHS clinic for an examination. The victim was examined on September 24, 2009. During that examination, she disclosed that the defendant had touched her vaginal area more than one time. As a result of the disclosure, the victim was interviewed by a psychologist, and she repeated the disclosure of sexual abuse by the defendant.

In late September, the victim had also disclosed to school personnel that the defendant was touching her. She repeated these disclosures in early October. On October 9, 2009, because of a disclosure made to school personnel, BIA Social Services took the victim to the IHS clinic for a second examination, and she again told the doctor that the defendant was touching her vaginal area.

On October 9, 2009, the defendant was interviewed. After initial denials, he admitted that on three occasions, two occurring on the reservation, he touched the victim on her vagina skin to skin.

The defendant is an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne tribe.

GOUDREAUX faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years to lifetime supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.