Lapwai Predator Wendall Antell Jailed for Decades in Sexual Abuse Case

COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO – In a chilling sentence that echoes the gravity of his crimes, Wendall Keith Antell, 48, of Lapwai, Idaho, has been sentenced to serve 121 months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, for the heinous act of sexually abusing a minor. The ruling comes from United States District Court, with U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announcing the sentence.

Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also imposed a monetary penalty on Antell, ordering him to pay $50,000 in restitution. The plea agreement entered by Antell on May 16, 2016, revealed that the Indian national began his predatory behavior against the victim when she was just five or six years old.

For over a decade, from the age of nine, Antell subjected the young girl to repeated and despicable acts of penetration with his finger. His intent was clear: to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, arouse, or gratify his own sexual desires. The sinister crimes took place within the boundaries of the Nez Perce Indian Reservation.

The relentless pursuit of justice was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Nez Perce Tribal Police, ensuring that this predator would face the full weight of the law.

This case is a part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched in 2006 by the Department of Justice to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. Under this program, federal prosecutors work tirelessly to locate, apprehend, and prosecute those who prey on children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information, visit www.usdoj.gov/psc.

As the community grapples with the horror of Antell’s actions, it is a testament to the justice system that such predators are brought to heel. The sentence handed down today serves as a stark reminder of the consequences faced by those who victimize our most vulnerable.