UPDATE MARCH 7, 2022:
A federal judge has handed out the penalty for a 48 year old man from Bridger convicted of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child involving two different victims
Bennett Belt was sentenced to 32 years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $500. Court information says between July 2003 and September 2017, in Bridger, Belt engaged in multiple sexual acts with children.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Pennington County Sherriff’s Office.
Belt was immediately turned over to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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NOVEMBER 12, 2021:
A federal jury has determined that a 48 year old man from Bridger, South Dakota, is guilty of three counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child, one count of Sexual Abuse of a Minor, and one count of Abusive Sexual Contact of a Child, as a result of a four-day federal jury trial in Pierre.
The convictions against Bennett Belt carry a maximum mandatory minimum of 30 years, up to life in federal prison and/or a $250,000 fine, a lifetime of supervised release, a $500 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, and restitution may be ordered.
Court information says between July 2003 and September 2017, in Bridger, Belt engaged in multiple sexual acts with minors with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, and degrade the victims, and to arouse and gratify Belt’s own sexual desire.
This case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services, and the Pennington County Sherriff’s Office.
A presentence investigation report was ordered and a sentencing date is to be set. Belt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
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