A disturbing case out of South Dakota has yielded a harsh sentence for a man who put his own twisted desires ahead of the well-being of two young girls.
Bert Roy Cottier, 58, of Pine Ridge, South Dakota, has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for attempting to entice minors using the internet.
The defendant was arrested and federally indicted after attempting to lure two undercover law enforcement agents posing as 13- and 14-year-old females. Cottier sent the undercover agents multiple sexually explicit messages and obscene matter between March of 2023 and October of 2023.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The initiative has led to the arrest and prosecution of numerous individuals who prey on children.
The crime of Attempted Enticement of a Minor is a serious offense that carries severe consequences. In this case, Cottier’s actions warranted a significant sentence in order to protect the community and ensure that he is held accountable for his actions.
The case was investigated by Homeland Security Investigations, South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, Pennington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rapid City Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Sarah B. Collins prosecuted the case.
Cottier was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. He will also be required to register as a sex offender under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Related Federal Cases
- Miguel Antonio Alvarez, Enticement of a Minor, South Dakota 2023 · South Dakota
- Gordon Weston, Enticement of a Minor, South Dakota 2024 · Texas
- Nathan William Juhala, Attempted Enticement of a Minor Using the In… · South Dakota
- William Nicholas Riley, Attempted Receipt of Child Pornography, South Dakota 2021 · South Dakota
- Shane Mousseaux, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, South Dakota 2024 · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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