KT High Elk, Abusive Sexual Contact and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender, South Dakota 2024

Piercing screams of betrayal echoed through the halls of justice as KT High Elk, 30, of Martin, South Dakota, was sentenced to five years in federal prison for Abusive Sexual Contact and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentencing took place on October 29, 2024.

High Elk’s crime occurred on January 15, 2022, at a house party in Eagle Butte on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation. An 18-year-old woman, also in attendance, reported that when she went upstairs, High Elk followed her and touched her genitalia without her consent. The incident sparked outrage, and High Elk was apprehended horseback riding near Snellman, Minnesota, in March of 2024.

The Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandated that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in Federal court as opposed to State 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.

High Elk was required to register as a sex offender based on a 2014 conviction for Sexual Exploitation of a Minor. His failure to register as a sex offender added to the severity of his crime.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, High Elk pleaded guilty on July 17, 2024. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.

As part of his sentence, High Elk was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service. The case serves as a stark reminder of the importance of registering as a sex offender and the severe consequences of failure to do so.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell expressed her commitment to protecting victims of sex crimes and ensuring that perpetrators face justice. The community can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that High Elk will spend the next five years behind bars, serving his sentence for Abusive Sexual Contact and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender.

High Elk’s case is a stark reminder of the importance of holding sex offenders accountable for their actions. The community must remain vigilant in reporting suspicious activity and supporting victims of sex crimes.