United States Attorney Jenny A. Durkan
Western District of Washington
LOWER ELWHA TRIBAL MEMBER SENTENCED TO 7+ YEARS IN PRISON FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF A MINOR
Defendant Admits Sexually Molesting Young RelativeTitle of the news release goes here
LOUIS HUNTER BENNETT, 33, of the Lower Elwha Tribe, was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 87 months in prison and lifetime supervised release for three counts of sexual abuse of a minor. BENNETT was first arrested by tribal police last summer after the victim disclosed the sexual abuse. BENNETT was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Robert J. Bryan.
According to the plea agreement signed in March 2011, BENNETT engaged in sex acts with the young victim, who is under the age of 16, on three different occasions in 2009, and 2010. The child disclosed the abuse shortly after the third incident in August 2010. Because BENNETT is a tribal member, and the abuse occurred on Lower Elwha Indian tribal trust land, the case is being prosecuted in federal court.
The case was investigated by the Lower Elwha Tribal Police and the FBI. The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London. Mr. London serves as a tribal liaison for the United States Attorney’s Office.
