A St. Francis, South Dakota man has been charged with a federal crime that will shock the community.
Vernon Blackhorse, age 63, of St. Francis, South Dakota, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, Aggravated Sexual Contact with a Child, and Abusive Sexual Contact.
Blackhorse was indicted by a federal grand jury on May 15, 2013. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Moreno on May 20, 2013 and pled not guilty to the indictment.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in custody, a $250,000 fine, or both; life of supervised release; and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The charge is merely an accusation and Blackhorse is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marie H. Ruettgers is prosecuting the case.
Blackhorse was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal pending trial. A trial date has not been set.
For more information, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota.
Related Federal Cases
- Jason Poorman, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota 2016 · South Dakota
- Sylanus Flute, Aggravated Child Sexual Abuse, South Dakota 2017 · South Dakota
- Abraham Joseph Crane, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota 2019 · South Dakota
- Theodore Taylor, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota 2013 · Florida
- Kurtis Charles Cross, Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, South Dakota 2025 · Minnesota
Key Facts
- State: South Dakota
- Category: Sex Crimes
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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