Harlan Two Eagle Indicted for Aggravated Sexual Abuse

Harlan Two Eagle, 33, of Parmelee, South Dakota, is facing life behind bars after a federal grand jury indicted him on one count of Aggravated Sexual Abuse on October 12, 2016. The charges stem from an alleged assault that occurred on December 22, 2015, in Mission, South Dakota, where prosecutors say Two Eagle used force to engage in a sexual act with the victim.

Two Eagle appeared in federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark Moreno on October 20, 2016, where he formally entered a plea of not guilty. Despite the plea, the evidence presented to the grand jury paints a grim picture of a violent crime committed under circumstances that elevate the charge to the most severe level under federal law.

If convicted, Two Eagle could be sentenced to up to life in federal prison and fined $250,000. The court may also impose five years of supervised release following any prison term, a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and—unless ruled indigent—an additional mandatory $5,000 special assessment. Restitution to the victim may also be ordered.

The indictment specifically alleges that on the night of December 22, 2015, Two Eagle knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with the victim through the use of physical force. The details of the incident, while not fully disclosed, are consistent with patterns of violent sexual assault investigated under federal jurisdiction on tribal lands.

The case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, underscoring the ongoing collaboration between tribal authorities and federal prosecutors in handling violent crime within reservation boundaries. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carrie G. Sanderson is leading the prosecution.

Two Eagle was released to a third-party custodian pending trial, a decision made under strict conditions to ensure court compliance. No trial date has been set. The charges are presumed accusations, and Two Eagle is innocent until proven guilty under federal law.