First Cousins From La Plant Plead Not Guilty To Incest

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a La Plant, South Dakota, man and woman have been indicted by a federal grand jury for Incest.

Nicholas Ray White Eagle, age 27, and Fawn Lynn Scott, age 22, were indicted on January 14, 2015.  They appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on January 15, 2015, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for each of them is up to 5 years in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, 3 years of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund for each charge.  Restitution may also be ordered.

On or about October 21, 2013, first cousins White Eagle and Scott had consensual sexual intercourse that produced a child with a genetic disability.  This is the third child born to these two cousins.  At the time of the sexual act, White Eagle and Scott were not legally married and were within the degrees of consanguinity with each other, within which a marriage was void.

The charge is merely an accusation and White Eagle and Scott are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Mikal Hanson is prosecuting the case.

White Eagle was released on bond to address separate state court charges and Scott was detained pending trial.  A trial date has not been set.