Child Sexual Abuser on the White Earth Indian Reservation Sentenced to 20 Years’ Imprisonment

MINNEAPOLIS – Joseph Daniel Schultz, age 43, has been sentenced to 240 months of imprisonment and 10 years of supervised release for sexually abusing a minor victim on the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indian Reservation, announced Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.

“The sexual abuse of a child is an unforgivable crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.  “Schultz violated a young girl on the White Earth Indian Reservation, shattering the trust and safety every child deserves.  That child showed courage no child should ever have to summon.  Two decades in prison stands as reminder that attacks on Minnesota’s children will be met with condemnation and severe consequences.” 

Throughout the fall and winter months of 2023, the defendant sexually abused a minor victim under the age of 9 on the White Earth Band of Ojibwe Indian Reservation.  Schultz’s abuse of the minor victim took many horrific forms and lasted for months.  He abused a position of trust and control in sexually abusing the victim.  The victim experienced many horrific forms of sexual abuse at the hands of Schultz.  In January 2024, when Schultz was arrested for an unrelated charge, the victim bravely disclosed the sexual abuse to a trusted adult.  Earlier this year, Schultz pled guilty to Abusive Sexual Contact. 

As the government noted at sentencing, at least one in four girls in the United States experiences child sexual abuse.  These numbers are starker for Native women and girls:  Native Americans are 2.5 times more likely to experience sexual assault crimes.  The impact of childhood sexual abuse is hard to overstate.  Childhood sexual abuse results in devastating and lasting physical, emotional, and mental impacts, particularly with children as young as the victim in this case.  Child victims of sexual abuse are at increased risk of suicide, chronic health conditions, and revictimization.  In short, there can be little room for doubt that child sexual abuse, particularly for Native girls, opens a Pandora’s box of lifelong consequences. 

The defendant was sentenced today in U.S. District Court before Chief Judge J. Patrick Schiltz.  Chief Judge Schiltz found that the defendant was subject to sentencing enhancements due to the age of the victim, the position of trust and control Schultz held over the victim, and the fact that Schultz qualified as a repeat and dangerous sex offender.  In handing down the twenty-year sentence, Chief Judge Schiltz explained that this was a “horrible crime and it will have a horrible impact.”  Chief Judge Schiltz noted the lasting impact these crimes have on their young victims, stating that the victim and her siblings will “spend all of their lives grappling with the harm committed in this case.”

“Schulz’s unspeakable actions violated the safety and innocence of a child,” said Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr. of FBI Minneapolis. “The children of the White Earth Nation, and all children, deserve to grow up free from the fear, trauma, and abuse inflicted by Schulz and horrible predators like him.  This sentence reflects the full force of the FBI and our law enforcement partners that will be brought to bear to pursue justice for all victims and prosecution for anyone who exploits and abuses a child.  We will stop at nothing to protect children and bring child predators to justice.”

The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the bravery of the young victim in this case, who courageously came forward and reported this horrific abuse.  She saved herself and likely others from the defendant’s predatory crimes.   

The U.S. Attorney’s Office also appreciates the excellent work of the FBI and the White Earth Tribal Police, who investigated this case. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Carla J. Baumel prosecuted the case.