62-Year-Old Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact with Child

A 62-year-old McLaughlin, South Dakota, man has been sentenced to a decade behind bars for preying on a young child.

Benjamin Eagle, age 62, was sentenced to ten years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

The disturbing crime took place on August 9, 2022, when Eagle, who was visiting a residence in McLaughlin on the Standing Rock Reservation, used force to engage in sexual contact with a nine-year-old child.

Eagle was at the residence because he was consuming alcohol, was not getting along with his significant other, and could not be at his own residence, according to court documents.

The child later disclosed the abuse at a child advocacy center in Bismarck, North Dakota, and Eagle subsequently admitted he had no excuse nor justification for abusing the child and knew the wrongfulness of his actions at the time of the offense.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher led the prosecution of the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Office of Justice Services.

Eagle was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service, bringing a measure of justice to the victim and their family.

This case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child abuse and the need for continued efforts to combat this heinous crime.