James Bruguier, Aggravated Sexual Abuse, South Dakota 2011

A 28-year-old Lake Andes man has been sentenced to 29 years behind bars for a series of heinous sex assaults and burglaries. James Bruguier, a/k/a James Bruguier, Jr., was found guilty by a jury in 2011 of Aggravated Sexual Abuse, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and First Degree Burglary.

The chilling details of Bruguier’s crimes were revealed during his trial. In one of the attacks, he crawled through a window uninvited and assaulted a teenager in her home, then raping her. The victim was one of two teenagers from the Yankton reservation who were brutalized by Bruguier.

Bruguier was initially indicted in February 2011, but was re-indicted as more victims came forward. After his conviction, he was sentenced to 360 months in custody, but appealed the decision to the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. The appeals court ordered a resentencing, which took place on March 31, 2014.

On that day, Bruguier was resentenced to concurrent sentences of 354 months, 300 months, and 180 months for the three convictions. The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Yankton Sioux Tribal Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas J. Wright prosecuting the case.

Bruguier’s crimes have left a trail of destruction and trauma in their wake. The victims, who are still dealing with the aftermath of their assaults, may never fully recover from the emotional scars inflicted by Bruguier.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has worked tirelessly to bring Bruguier to justice, and their efforts have been instrumental in securing a lengthy sentence for the predator. The community can rest a little easier knowing that Bruguier will be behind bars for many years to come.

Bruguier was immediately turned over to the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence. It’s a small measure of justice for the victims, but it’s a start. As the Grimy Times continues to follow this story, we will provide updates on Bruguier’s case and any developments in the investigation.

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