United States Attorney Jenny A. Durkan
Western District of Washington
BLACKFEET TRIBAL MEMBER PLEADS GUILTY TO SEX ABUSE OF MINOR AT LUMMI TRIBE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Young Victim Disclosed Abuse Years After the 2002-2003 Assaults
HAROLD RAVON DIGGS, 47, of Lapwai, Idaho, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Indian Tribe, pleaded guilty August 10, 2011, in U.S. District Court in Seattle to aggravated sexual abuse of a minor. Under the terms of the plea agreement, DIGGS must be sentenced to between 70 and 87 months in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Zilly on November 10, 2011. Should Judge Zilly sentence outside that range, either side can withdraw from the plea agreement.
According to records filed in the case, DIGGS worked as a reading tutor at the Lummi Indian Nation Elementary School in 2002-2003. DIGGS sexually molested a second grade student during the tutoring sessions. The student was not yet 12-years-old at the time of the abuse. The victim disclosed the abuse years later. DIGGS was arrested in May 2011, and has been in custody since his arrest.
The case is being prosecuted in federal court because the defendant is a tribal member and the abuse occurred on tribal land.
The case was investigated by the Lummi Police Department and the FBI. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney J. Tate London. Mr. London serves as a Tribal Liaison for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
