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Press Release

Fort Thompson Man Charged With Sexual Abuse Of A Minor

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Fort Thompson, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Minor.

Aaron Grass Rope, age 20, was indicted on April 12, 2013. Grass Rope appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 24, 2013 and pled not guilty to the Indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to 15 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both; any term of years, not less than 5, or up to life of supervised release and a mandatory minimum term of 5 years up to life of supervised release upon revocation. Restitution and a $100 special assessment may also be ordered.

The charge is merely an accusation, and Grass Rope is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges is prosecuting the case.

Grass Rope was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service. A trial date has not been set.

Updated June 22, 2015