A Chicago man has been sentenced to 12 months in custody for repeatedly trespassing on the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota.
Steven Nichols, 44, was sentenced by U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on April 28, 2015, after pleading guilty to federal criminal trespass charges. This is Nichols’ fourth conviction for the crime, with previous convictions in 2013, 2014, and another in 2014.
The latest trespass incident occurred on January 16, 2015, when Nichols was on furlough from the Work Release Program in Winner and visited a home in St. Francis on the reservation. He was detained by law enforcement after the occupant called the police.
Nichols has been barred from entering the Rosebud reservation since September 2011, when the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Court entered an Emergency Writ of Exclusion. Despite this, he continued to return to the reservation, leading to his arrest in 2012 and subsequent convictions.
The investigation was conducted by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Tim Maher prosecuted the case.
Nichols was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to complete his sentence. In addition to his 12-month sentence, Nichols was also ordered to pay a $25 assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund and to not re-enter the lands of Todd County and the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation.
The case highlights the ongoing issue of trespassing on Native American reservations and the need for accountability from those who disregard tribal laws and regulations.
Related Federal Cases
- Chicago Man Charged with Criminal Trespass · Illinois
- Winner Men Strip Spirit Camp in Pipeline Protest Trespass · South Dakota
- Tribal Director Admits to $5K+ Bribery Scheme · South Dakota
- Tribal Liaison Named Amid Indian Country Concerns · Nevada
- Black Hills Ranchers Land Grabs Spark Government Controversy · South Dakota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Public Corruption
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
ðŸâ€Â’ Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
Public CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic CorruptionPublic Corruption