Fort Thompson Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Abusive Child Sex Crimes

A Fort Thompson man has been sentenced to 15 years in federal prison for his role in the abusive sexual contact of a child. Earlwyn Makes Room For Them, 28, of Fort Thompson, was convicted of the federal crime in a grand jury indictment.

Evidence presented in court revealed that Makes Room For Them repeatedly abused a young girl living in the same home in Fort Thompson within the Crow Creek Reservation. In 2014, the defendant forced the young victim, who was under the age of 12, to touch his genitalia and also forced his hand down the young victim’s pants and touched her groin.

This egregious abuse of power by Makes Room For Them resulted in severe trauma to the young victim. The case has raised concerns about the safety and well-being of children living in and around the Crow Creek Reservation.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case under the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute that mandates certain violent crimes be prosecuted in federal court rather than state court. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley led the prosecution of the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

The sentencing took place on June 10, 2024, before Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange of the U.S. District Court. In addition to the 15-year prison sentence, Makes Room For Them was ordered to serve five years of supervised release and pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Makes Room For Them was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service following the sentencing. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating impact of child sex crimes and the importance of holding perpetrators accountable for their actions.

As a society, we must take a stand against these heinous crimes and support victims and their families in their quest for justice and healing.