Lower Brule Man Sentenced For Abusive Sexual Contact

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Lower Brule, South Dakota, man convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact was sentenced on May 1, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange.  Douglas LaRoche, age 44, was sentenced to 35 months of imprisonment, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  He also needs to register as a sex offender.

LaRoche was indicted for the above charge by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2012 and pled guilty to a Superseding Information on January 4, 2013.  The charge stems from an incident occurring on August 12, 2012, when LaRoche consumed alcohol with the victim and others.  During the early evening hours, the victim returned to her home and went to bed.  LaRoche went to the victim’s home and knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual contact with the victim, who at the time, was incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct and was physically incapable of declining participation in and communicating unwillingness to engage in the sexual contact.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Meghan N. Dilges prosecuted the case. 

LaRoche was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshal’s Service.