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Press Release

Pine Ridge Man Indicted For Sexual Abuse

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

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Pine Ridge, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly having sexual contact with a 13 year old girl on November 6, 2012.
          Archie Backward, Jr., age 21, was indicted by a federal grand jury on January 23, 2013 for two counts of abusive sexual contact with a minor and one count of abusive sexual contact without permission.  Backward appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on February 1, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment.  The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 2 years' imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.  The charges are merely accusations and Backward 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.  Backward was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal.  A trial date has been set for April 9, 2013.      ###

Updated June 22, 2015