Wanblee Man Pleads Guilty to Kidnapping and Aiding and Abetting

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that William Jakeway, age 52, of Wanblee, South Dakota, appeared before United States District Judge Roberto A. Lange on June 20, 2012, and pled guilty to Kidnapping, Aiding and Abetting. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The conviction stems from an incident that took place on November 5, 2011, when Jakeway and his son abducted the victim, an adult male. Jakeway and his son, Jerett Jakeway, thought the victim had stolen a piece of property from a different family member. They traveled from Wanblee to the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation and located the victim. At gun point, they forced the victim out of a vehicle and assaulted him. They forced the victim into their car for the purpose of harassing and interrogating him and started driving back toward Wanblee. Law enforcement authorities were dispatched to the area, located the Jakeways, stopped their vehicle, and freed the victim. The victim suffered bruises and abrasions as a result of the kidnapping.

Jerett Jakeway pled guilty to the Kidnapping charge on June 15, 2012, and will be sentenced on September 11, 2012.

The investigation was conducted by Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Maher.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for September 11, 2012. Jakeway was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.