Swiftbird Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse, Assault, and Failure to Register

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Swiftbird, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, and Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

Chad Two Hearts, age 39 , was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 22, 2012. He appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on August 30, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a mandatory minimum of 30 years up to life in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both.

The charges relate to an allegation that between March 2005 and August 2012 Chad Two Hearts assaulted two different victims, one in Swiftbird and one in Eagle Butte.

The charges are merely accusations, and Two Hearts is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.   

Two Hearts was detained pending trial. No trial date has been set.