McLaughlin Man Charged with Sexual Abuse of a Person Incapable of Consent

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Sexual Abuse of a Person Incapable of Consent.

Verl Janis, a/k/a “Bumpy”, age 38, was indicted on November 13, 2019.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on December 5, 2019, and pleaded not guilty to the Indictment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a minimum of five years, and up to life, of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  Restitution may also be ordered.

The Indictment alleges that on September 1, 2019 Janis knowingly engaged in and attempted to engage in a sexual act with an individual who was physically incapable of declining participation or communicating an unwillingness to engage in the sexual act.

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

The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Standing Rock Agency.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirsten Jasper is prosecuting the case.   

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