66-Year-Old Iowa Man Sentenced to 27 Years for Abusive Sexual Contact

RAPID CITY – In a shocking display of justice, Senior District Judge Karen E. Schreier on May 16, 2024, sentenced Douglas Hennigar, a 66-year-old Des Moines, Iowa, man, to 27 years in federal prison for Abusive Sexual Contact. Hennigar was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and will serve 10 years of supervised release.

The sentencing came after Hennigar pleaded guilty to the charges on March 15, 2024, stemming from an indictment by a federal grand jury in September 2023 for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact.

According to court documents, in 2010, Hennigar moved to the Pine Ridge Reservation after meeting the victims’ grandmother/mother through social media. The grandmother cared for multiple children, including her 10-year-old daughter at the time. Almost immediately after moving in with the grandmother, Hennigar sexually abused two female children, who were between the ages of 5-10.

The abuse spanned multiple years and occurred on and off the Pine Ridge Reservation. At the time of the abuse, the youngest child was five years old, but did not disclose the abuse until she was 14 years of age. This heinous crime has left the community reeling, and the justice served is a testament to the tireless efforts of the FBI and U.S. Attorney Megan Poppen, who prosecuted the case.

The case serves as a harsh reminder of the devastating effects of child abuse and the importance of bringing perpetrators to justice. The bravery of the victims in coming forward and seeking justice is a beacon of hope for others who have suffered similar traumas.

Hennigar was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, where he will begin serving his 27-year sentence. The Grimy Times will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as more information becomes available.