A South Dakota man has been sentenced to 32 years in federal prison for multiple counts of sexual abuse.
Bennett Belt, 48, of Bridger, South Dakota, was convicted of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child involving two different victims.
Between July 2003 and September 2017, Belt engaged in multiple sexual acts with children in Bridger, South Dakota. He was indicted by a federal grand jury on August 11, 2020.
Belt was found guilty by a jury on November 5, 2021, and was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $500.
Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, handed down the sentence on February 14, 2022. Belt was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jay Miller and Abby Roesler prosecuted the case.
The victims and their families have been through a traumatic ordeal, and this sentence brings some justice to their tragic experiences. The Grimy Times will continue to report on cases like this to keep the public informed and hold perpetrators accountable.
Related Federal Cases
- Harlan Two Eagle, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota · South Dakota
- Vine Janis, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Benton Rowland, Child Sexual Abuse, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Benton Rowland, Child Sexual Abuse, South Dakota · South Dakota
- Marcos Lorenzo Bear Shield, Aggravated Sexual Abuse, South Dakota 2015 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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