Lodge Grass man admits sexually abusing child on Crow Indian Reservation

BILLINGS — A Lodge Grass man accused of sexually abusing a child on the Crow Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Marty Edward Plenty Hawk, 29, pleaded guilty to aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact of a child as charged in an indictment. Plenty Hawk faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and not less than five years to a lifetime of supervised release on each crime.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. A sentencing date will be set before U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Plenty Hawk was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged that between 2021 and May 2023 near Lodge Grass, on the Crow Indian Reservation, Plenty Hawk forced the victim, identified as Jane Doe 1, who was under the age of 12, to engage in a sexual act and caused the victim to engage in sexual conduct. On May 2, 2023, law enforcement arrested Plenty Hawk after a domestic disturbance at his residence. While in custody, Plenty Hawk notified jail staff that he wanted to write a confession and wrote that he had been carrying on a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1. A sexual assault examination of Jane Doe 1 noted injuries consistent with child sexual abuse. In an interview with the FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs, Plenty Hawk again admitted to having a sexual relationship with Jane Doe 1 and having sexual intercourse with the victim multiple times.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.

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