MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Wanblee, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly sexually abusing and intimidating members of his family between 2006 and 2010.
Charles Chipps, age 65, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 18, 2013, for seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of abusive sexual contact of a minor, three counts of aggravated incest, and two counts of witness intimidation.
Chipps appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on July 10, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment. Chipps faces a mandatory minimum of 30 years’ imprisonment up to a maximum of life imprisonment upon conviction and a $250,000 fine.
The charges are merely accusations, and Chipps is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs-Office of Justice Services, and the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.
Chipps was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. A trial date has been set for September 17, 2013.
