ABERDEEN, SD – A jury in Aberdeen has returned a guilty verdict against Jesse Norman White Bull, 45, of Kenel, South Dakota, for sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl between June and July 2023. United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced the conviction on July 10, 2025, following a three-day trial.
White Bull now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine for each count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor. The case was prosecuted under the Major Crimes Act, which requires certain violent crimes committed in Indian Country to be handled in federal court.
This investigation was a collaboration between the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem led the prosecution. A presentence investigation report has been ordered, with sentencing scheduled for September 29, 2025.
White Bull’s case is part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. For more information on this vital effort, visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The conviction comes as a significant victory for the U.S. Attorney’s Office and all those involved in ensuring justice for victims of sexual abuse.
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Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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