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Press Release

Keshena Man Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Exploitation on the Menominee Indian Reservation

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Wisconsin

Richard G. Frohling, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on July 27, 2022, Senior United States District Judge William C. Griesbach sentenced Darwin Pamanet (age: 46) to 360 months in federal prison for child sexual exploitation. Pamanet formerly lived in Keshena, which is a community on the Menominee Indian Reservation.  Following his prison sentence, Pamanet will serve the remainder of his life on supervised release.

According to court documents, on July 15, 2021, the defendant recorded himself sexually abusing an 8-year-old girl while at a residence on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The abuse was disclosed in early 2022 and led to the discovery of two additional young girls who were victims of the defendant’s crimes.

In sentencing the defendant, Judge Griesbach noted the “obvious need for a substantial sentence” for a “terrible offense.” Judge Griesbach stated the sentence was based on the magnitude of the offense and said “to do this to an innocent child is one of the most heinous crimes possible.” Judge Griesbach observed a strong need to protect the public from the defendant, and in response to a defense request for a lesser sentence, Judge Griesbach stated “some crimes are so unthinkable…that they have to receive a much higher sentence than a lot of other crimes.” Judge Griesbach also remarked upon the need to deter those who might consider similar actions.

The Menominee Tribal Police Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the case, which Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier prosecuted.

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For further information contact: Kenneth.Gales@usdoj.gov

(414) 297-1700

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Updated July 28, 2022