Jesse Norman White Bull, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, South Dakota 2025

Jesse Norman White Bull, a 45-year-old man from Kenel, South Dakota, has been found guilty of two counts of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, a federal crime. According to sources, the abuse occurred at a residence in Kenel, a community within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation.

White Bull was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 and went on trial in Aberdeen, South Dakota. A three-day federal jury trial led to the guilty verdict on July 10, 2025. Each charge carries 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 are also possible penalties.

The abuse of a 13-year-old girl is alleged to have occurred on multiple occasions between June 2023 and July 2023. This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office due to the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute that mandates certain violent crimes be prosecuted in Federal Court as opposed to State Court.

The FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted White Bull. A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date of September 29, 2025, was set. White Bull was released on bond pending sentencing.

This case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse. The project was launched in May 2006 by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section. The goal is to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims.

White Bull is set to be sentenced on September 29, 2025. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. The U.S. Attorney’s Office will continue to work to bring perpetrators to justice.

For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc. This article will be updated as more information becomes available.

Related Federal Cases