Norfolk Man Charged with Arson

United States Attorney, Joe Kelly, announced the unsealing of a criminal complaint charging Joseph Lloyd James, age 47 of Norfolk, Nebraska, with arson in connection with the burning of a car found on the Santee Sioux Indian reservation.  James’ arrest occurred on November 19, 2018, and was made during the investigation into the death of Phyllis Hunhoff of Yankton, South Dakota.  It is alleged James set fire to Hunhoff’s car.  The maximum punishment for the offense is 25 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a five year term of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment.  James is scheduled for his initial appearance before United States Magistrate Judge ­Susan M. Bazis on November 21, 2018, at 1:30 p.m..  As this matter concerns an ongoing investigation, the United States Attorney’s Office is unable to provide additional comment at this time. 

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Nebraska State Patrol, the Knox County Sheriff’s Office (Nebraska), the Santee Sioux Nation Police Department, the Lincoln Police Department (Nebraska), the Nebraska State Fire Marshal, the Norfolk Police Department (Nebraska), the Niobrara Police Department (Nebraska), and the Yankton County Sheriff’s Office (South Dakota).

A complaint is a formal accusation of conduct, not evidence of guilt. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.