MINNEAPOLIS – United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a White River, South Dakota man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, abusive sexual contact, and sexual abuse of a minor.
Shannon White Buffalo, age 46, was indicted on August 21, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on September 6, 2013, and pled not guilty to the indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is at least 30 years and up to life in custody and/or a $250,000 fine, at least five years and up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charges stem from alleged incidents that occurred between August 2010 and December 2013 when White Buffalo sexually abused three different child and minor victims in Mellette County. The charges are merely accusations, and White Buffalo is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher is prosecuting the case.
White Buffalo was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial has been set for October 22, 2013.
