No Contest Plea In Child Rape Case
Product of Tribal, Local and Federal Cooperation
TOPEKA, KAN. – Cooperation among the Prairie Band Potawatomi, the Jackson County Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office contributed to a plea of no contest in a child rape case, U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom said today.
Trent Robinson, 51, a resident of the Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation, pleaded no contest in Jackson County District Court to a charge of raping a child under 14 years of age. A judge found Robinson guilty and set sentencing for June 27.
In return for Robinson’s plea to the charge in state court, the U.S. Attorney’s Office agreed not to file federal charges against him.
“Mr. Robinson was unwilling to enter a plea until he was assured in writing there would be no federal charges,” said U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom.
The parties have agreed to recommend a “hard 25" sentence.
“After consulting with the Jackson County Attorney’s Office and tribal law enforcement, I agreed with them that justice would be served in this case by a sentence of 25 years without parole,” Grissom said.
Shawna Miller, Jackson County Attorney, said: “The Prairie Band Potawatomi Police Department conducted a professional and thorough investigation into this matter. The cooperation between my office and the United States Attorney’s Office ensured that a child rapist has been taken off the streets for twenty five years, without any further trauma to the child in this case.”
Steve Ortiz, tribal chairman, said: “The Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Tribal Council is pleased with the swift and professional job with which the Prairie Band Potawatomi Police Department conducted the investigation in this case. The Tribal Council also appreciates the cooperative efforts of the Jackson County Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Prairie Band Potawatomi Police Department. They worked collaboratively and speedily to bring the defendant to justice while continuing to make and keep the Prairie Band Potawatomi National Reservation a safe community in which to work and live.”
In his plea, Robinson admitted that had sexual intercourse with a minor child on the Prairie Band Potawatomi reservation near Mayetta, Kan.
Grissom commended the Potawatomi Police Department, Jackson County Attorney Shawna Miller and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alan Metzger for their work on the case.
