ABERDEEN, SD — In a stunning turn of justice, Jaren Loren Lane Mellette, the 27-year-old resident of Timber Lake, South Dakota, has been sentenced to three years in federal prison for his heinous act of groping a 13-year-old girl. The incident, which sparked outrage across the nation, occurred within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation and was a stark reminder of the dangers faced by young girls in rural America.
Mellette, who has now been branded a sexual predator, was also ordered to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. The court’s decision came after Mellette pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025, admitting to the charge of Abusive Sexual Contact without Consent.
The incident itself unfolded last summer in Corson County, where Mellette brazenly violated the innocence of a child under the age of consent. Despite the gravity of his actions, it fell under federal jurisdiction due to the Major Crimes Act, which allows for certain crimes in Indian country to be prosecuted at the federal level.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse. The FBI conducted the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem successfully prosecuted Mellette, ensuring that justice was served for the victim.
As a result of his conviction, Mellette is also required to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. He has been immediately remanded into the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service to begin serving his sentence without delay.
The sentencing of Jaren Loren Lane Mellette serves as a stark reminder that predators will face severe consequences for their actions, no matter where they commit their crimes. The community of Timber Lake and beyond can take solace in knowing that justice has been served for the young girl who was victimized by this monster.
RELATED: Timber Lake Man Sentenced for Abusive Sexual Contact
Related Federal Cases
- 23andMe Faces Legal Fire for Genetic Data Sale · Washington
- AG James Leads Bipartisan Push Against Youth Substance Abuse · New Hampshire
- Fontenot Sentenced to Vacate for Illegal Term · South Dakota
- Fontenot Fights Conviction From South Dakota Cell · South Dakota
- Live Nation Faces Trial Over Monopoly Practices · Washington
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime|Sex Crimes|Cybercrime|Public Corruption|Weapons|Human Trafficking|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News