Waylon Ronald Burns Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on February 12, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, WAYLON RONALD BURNS, a 35-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, pled guilty to attempted aggravated sexual abuse. Sentencing has been set for May 15, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 4, 2012, the victim and some friends were drinking and driving around Lame Deer. At some point, BURNS joined them. BURNS started acting weird and aggressive and everyone but the victim got out of the car. The victim and BURNS eventually drove to the rodeo grounds. BURNS physically assaulted the victim and then raped her.

When interviewed, BURNS admitted that he had sex with the victim, but claimed it was consensual.

BURNS faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.