Manderson Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charge of Abusive Sexual Contact

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Abusive Sexual Contact.

Leonard Chase Alone, Jr., age 30, of Manderson, was indicted by a federal grand jury on March 15, 2011, for Abusive Sexual Contact. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on March 21, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is any term of years up to life and/or a $250,000 fine. The charge is merely an accusation, and Chase Alone 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. Chase Alone was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.