Allen Man Charged With Burglarizing A Home

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that an Allen, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for First Degree Burglary.

George Cortier, age 26, was indicted on November 19, 2013.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on November 26, 2013, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to 25 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The indictment charges that in July 2013, near Allen, Cortier broke into a man’s home and stole three television sets.

The charge is merely an accusation and Cortier is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs Office of Justice Services and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Kelderman is prosecuting the case.    

Cortier was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.