⏱ 2 min read
Ricky Wayne Hettich, Jr., a 26-year-old man from McLaughlin, South Dakota, was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl on the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. The abuse occurred around Christmas 2024, when Hettich picked up the girl by the waist against her will, laid her down on his bed, and had sexual intercourse with her, resulting in pregnancy. Hettich pleaded guilty on April 16, 2026, and was sentenced on July 20, 2026.
The case was investigated by the FBI and prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act, which mandates that certain violent crimes in Indian Country be prosecuted in federal court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem handled the case, which resulted in Hettich’s guilty plea and subsequent sentencing.
Hettich’s sentence includes 15 years in federal prison, followed by 5 years of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to serve his sentence.
The victim suffered not only physical harm but also emotional trauma, as Hettich forced her back down whenever she tried to escape. The case highlights the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their crimes, especially in cases involving vulnerable victims like minors.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: South Dakota
- Location: SD
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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