POCATELLO – James Rio First, 33, of Fort Hall, Idaho, pled guilty today in United States District Court to one count of abusive sexual contact, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. First was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 22, 2011.

According to the plea agreement, First admitted during an interview with Fort Hall Police, that he had inappropriately touched an eight-year-old girl four or five times over a six-month period, on the Shoshone-Bannock Indian Reservation. First is an enrolled tribal member.

The charge of abusive sexual contact is punishable by up to life in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to lifetime supervised release.

First is scheduled to be sentenced on December 17, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The case was investigated by the Fort Hall Police Department.