MARCH 2023:
Chief Judge Roberto A. Lange, U.S. District Court, has sentenced a Todd County man convicted of Sexual Abuse of a Minor.
Fremont Menard, a/k/a Fremont Menard, Jr., age 20, was sentenced to four years in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release, and ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
The conviction stems from conduct that occurred in September of 2021 in Todd County, wherein Menard 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.
This case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse, launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. Led by the U.S. Attorneys’ Offices and the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section, Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children, as well as identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psc.
Menard was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.
MAY 2022:
A federal grand jury has determined there is enough evidence to charge a 19 year old man from Todd County with Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor and Abusive Sexual Contact of a Minor.
Fremont Menard, a/k/a Fremont Menard, Jr., pled not guilty to the Indictment.
The Indictment alleges that between on or about August 23, 2021, and September 4, 2021, in Todd County, South Dakota, Menard knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, sexual contact with a minor under the age of 16, by the use of force. The Indictment further alleges that on or about September 4, 2021, Menard knowingly engaged in, and attempted to engage in, a sexual act with a different minor under the age of 16, by the use of force.
The maximum penalty upon conviction is up to life in prison and/or a $250,000 fine, 5 years up to life of supervised release, and $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. Restitution may also be ordered.
The investigation is being conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services.
Menard was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has been set for June 28, 2022.
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