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Press Release

Kenel Woman Sentenced for Child Abuse

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of South Dakota

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Court Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Kenel, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on October 2, 2023.

Bobbi Rey Yellow Fat, age 41, was sentenced to 12 months and one day in federal prison, followed by one year of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Yellow Fat was indicted for Child Abuse by a federal grand jury in September of 2022. She pleaded guilty on June 20, 2023.

In early August of 2022, Yellow Fat was caring for her three-year-old child in Kenel, which is in Corson County and within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The child sat on a mop that was soaked with a household cleaning solution. The child had eczema and a history of skin issues which exacerbated the injuries to her through the exposure. Other older children in the defendant’s household asked the defendant to get the child medical care, but she did not. The defendant did not take reasonable steps to address the injuries to the child. The child developed skin infections, suffered bleeding wounds, and was exposed to severe physical pain for over a week through the defendant’s lack of appropriate care and abuse. After law enforcement officers were notified, the child received medical care and healed.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services, Standing Rock Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.

Yellow Fat was released after sentencing and must report to prison by October 24, 2023.

Updated October 6, 2023

Topic
Indian Country Law and Justice