Wounded Knee Man Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wounded Knee man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly engaging in sexual acts by force.

Faron Ben Cheyenne, age 25, was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 20, 2011, for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on September 23, 2011, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction of each count is life imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Cheyenne is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins is prosecuting the case. Cheyenne was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.