⏱ 3 min read
Gordon Dean Rhoan, a 25-year-old member of the Confederated Bands and Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation, has been found guilty of attempted aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The crime occurred in February 2023, when Rhoan attempted to engage in oral sex with a 7-year-old girl on tribal trust land of the Yakama Nation in Klickitat County, Washington. The victim, who courageously testified against Rhoan, was just one of several children he had victimized. Rhoan’s history of abuse dates back to at least 2020, when he assaulted a 15-year-old girl on the Warm Springs Reservation and was also found in bed with a 5-year-old girl.
Rhoan’s trial, which was presided over by United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke, revealed a disturbing pattern of behavior. In addition to the 2023 incident, evidence was presented of two prior incidents of child abuse. The first occurred in February 2020, when Rhoan sexually assaulted a 15-year-old girl and admitted to having had sexual relations with her at least nine times over a three-year period. The second incident occurred in April or May 2020, when a mother found Rhoan in bed with her 5-year-old daughter, with the child’s pants pulled down and no underwear on.
Rhoan faces a minimum of 30 years in prison and a maximum of life, followed by at least 5 years of supervised release and potentially a lifetime of supervision and registration as a sex offender. The case was prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington, with assistance from the FBI and tribal law enforcement agencies.
The guilty verdict is a testament to the bravery of the young victim and her family, as well as the tireless efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors. As stated by First Assistant United States Attorney Pete Serrano, ‘the courage of this young victim’ was instrumental in holding Rhoan accountable for his heinous crimes.
📋 Key Facts
- Crime: Sex Crimes
- Defendant: Washington
- Location: WA
- Source: DOJ Press Release
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