United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced that a Rosebud, South Dakota, man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Commission of a Crime of Violence While Failing to Register as a Sex Offender was sentenced on June 13, 2022, by Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court.
Alton Bear Heels, age 30, was sentenced to 13 years in federal prison, followed by seven years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $200.
Bear Heels was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 8, 2021. He pleaded guilty on March 10, 2022.
The conviction stemmed from an incident that occurred in April 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, when Bear Heels knowingly engaged in a sexual act with a minor who had attained the age of 12 years but had not attained the age of 16 years. In addition, at the time of the above-described conduct, Bear Heels was a person required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by virtue of a conviction under Indian tribal law.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
Bear Heels was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.