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Jury Finds Jesse Norman White Bull Guilty of Sexual Abuse of a Minor
A federal jury in Aberdeen, South Dakota, has convicted Jesse Norman White Bull, 45, of Kenel, of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, following a three-day trial. The charges carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a mandatory minimum of five years up to life of supervised release, and a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The jury delivered the verdict on July 10, 2025, after hearing evidence that White Bull sexually abused a 13-year-old girl on multiple occasions between June 2023 and July 2023 at a residence in Kenel, a community within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, which mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian Country be prosecuted in Federal Court. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006. Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.
The case was investigated by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case. A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date of September 29, 2025, was set. White Bull was released on bond pending sentencing.
White Bull, a resident of Kenel, South Dakota, was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024. The evidence presented during the trial established that White Bull engaged in a pattern of abuse against a minor, violating the trust and safety of a child.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to prioritize the prosecution of crimes against children, working closely with law enforcement agencies and community partners to ensure justice is served and victims receive the support they need.
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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