Wagner Man Convicted of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child Under 12 Years Old

Acting United States Attorney Dennis Holmes announced that Frank Sanchez, age 66, of Wagner, South Dakota, was found guilty of one count of Abusive Sexual Contact, and was acquitted of one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact as a result of a federal jury trial in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. 

The charge of conviction carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.  

Sanchez was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 3, 2019. 

The conviction stems from an incident between June 1, 2006, and September 1, 2006, when Sanchez engaged in sexual contact with a female minor who had not attained the age of 12 years.  The incident occurred while they were living with relatives in the Marty, South Dakota, area.

This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ann M. Hoffman prosecuted the case.

A presentence investigation was ordered.  The defendant was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.