Mission Woman Charged With Child Abuse

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mission, South Dakota, woman has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Child Abuse.

Terri Covey, age 41, was indicted on May 13, 2014.  She appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on June 20, 2014, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 15 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on or about between February 1, 2013, and February 16, 2013, in Mission, Covey did abuse, expose, torture, torment, and cruelly punish a child under 7 years of age. 

The charges are merely accusations and Covey is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers is prosecuting the case.   

Covey was released to a third party custodian pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.