Porcupine, South Dakota, Man Arraigned on Charges of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Porcupine, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact.

Jefferson Swallow, age 18, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 21, 2010, for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and Abusive Sexual Contact. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on January 7, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term from up to 30 years to life for Aggravated Sexual Abuse and a maximum of 20 years of imprisonment for Abusive Sexual Contact. Both charges carry a fine of $250,000. The charges are merely accusations, and Swallow is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Swallow was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.