Aberdeen, SD – In a stunning turn of events, Travis Anthony Weasel, 45, of Bullhead, South Dakota, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for the heinous crime of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on August 4, 2025, also includes five years of supervised release and a $200 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Weasel’s reign of terror began in December 2023 when he was indicted by a federal grand jury. His plea of guilty came just over a year later on May 19, 2025. The case dates back to 2011 when Weasel was convicted of Sexual Abuse of an Incapacitated Person for having sexual intercourse with an unconscious woman at a house party. He has since been a repeat offender.
Following his release from prison in May 2021, Weasel chose not to register as a sex offender until February 2024, when he was arrested. The incident that led to this severe sentence occurred on January 26, 2023. Homeless and destitute, Weasel took shelter with an old friend in McIntosh, South Dakota, a community within the Standing Rock Sioux Indian Reservation. His actions towards the friend’s 15-year-old daughter were nothing short of monstrous.
According to reports, Weasel first drugged his host and then proceeded to sexually assault the girl after ensuring she was unconscious. When the girl tried to flee, he threatened her with death if she did not comply. The girl survived but suffered unimaginable trauma.
‘Protecting children from sexual abuse is amongst our highest priorities at the U.S. Attorney’s Office,’ said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell. ‘This sentence ensures that Weasel will be kept away from society for many years to come, serving the justice these victims deserve.’ The case was prosecuted under the Major Crimes Act and as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat child sexual exploitation.
The FBI, the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and the United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem handled the prosecution. Weasel is now in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Related Federal Cases
- Pine Ridge Man Acquitted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse · South Dakota
- McLaughlin Man Facing Life Sentence for Aggravated Sexual Abuse · South Dakota
- Sisseton Man Indicted in Brutal Assault & Sexual Abuse · South Dakota
- 29-Year-Old Sisseton Man Indicted for Sexual Abuse & Obstruction · South Dakota
- Joel Max Sentenced for Sexual Abuse of Child · Oregon
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Sex Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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