North Dakota Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

SIOUX FALLS - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Hankinson, North Dakota, man, who also has ties to Northeastern South Dakota, and who was convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact. The sentencing took place on January 18, 2023, in Aberdeen, South Dakota.

Sky Walker Lawrence, age 41, was sentenced to nine years in federal prison, followed by lifetime of supervised release.  He was ordered to pay $200 as a statutorily required special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

According to court documents, between approximately 2012 and 2018, Lawrence engaged in abusive sexual contacts with two minor victims. Each victim was threatened or placed in fear in order for Lawrence to perpetrate the abusive sexual contacts. The abuse took place in Northeastern South Dakota and within the tribal lands of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe. 

This case was investigated by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the FBI. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.

Lawrence was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to continue serving his sentence.