Little Eagle Woman Jailed for Aiding Child Abuse

In a shocking betrayal of trust, 26-year-old Adele Fay Fast Horse of Little Eagle, South Dakota, has been sentenced to two years of probation for her role in aiding child abuse on the Standing Rock Reservation.

On April 1, 2023, a 14-year-old relative of Fast Horse’s showed her disturbing photographs of Fast Horse’s husband kissing a 12-year-old girl in Little Eagle. In a twisted display of depravity, Fast Horse offered the niece $20 to brutally assault the 12-year-old victim, who sustained minor injuries in the attack.

The sickening assault was orchestrated by Fast Horse, who later paid her niece $20 after watching a recording of the attack. The Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services investigated the heinous crime, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.

Fast Horse, who was indicted by a federal grand jury in June 2023, pleaded guilty to the charges on October 30, 2023. Her husband’s identity remains unknown at this time.

The case was prosecuted in federal court due to the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute that mandates the prosecution of violent crimes in Indian country. This move ensures that justice is served for the victims of such heinous crimes.

Fast Horse was also ordered to pay a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024, before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

The people of Little Eagle and the Standing Rock Reservation can rest a little easier knowing that justice has been served in this case. However, the lingering question remains: what drove Fast Horse to commit such a heinous act, and what measures will be taken to prevent such crimes from happening in the future?

The U.S. Attorney’s Office, under the leadership of Alison J. Ramsdell, remains committed to upholding justice and protecting the vulnerable members of our society.