Little Eagle Woman Sentenced for Child Abuse

ABERDEEN - United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell announced today that U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann has sentenced a Little Eagle, South Dakota, woman convicted of Child Abuse. The sentencing took place on May 20, 2024.

Adele Fay Fast Horse, age 26, was sentenced to two years of probation and a special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund in the amount of $100.

Fast Horse was indicted by a federal grand jury in June of 2023. She pleaded guilty on October 30, 2023.

On April 1, 2023, Fast Horse’s 14-year-old niece showed her photographs of Fast Horse’s husband kissing a 12-year-old girl in Little Eagle, which is within the Standing Rock Reservation. Fast Horse offered the niece money to beat up the 12-year-old-girl. Later that day, the niece and several other individuals broke into the 12-year-old’s home, woke her up and assaulted her. The 12-year-old girl sustained minor injuries. When the niece showed Fast Horse a recording of the assault, Fast Horse paid her $20.

This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, mandates that certain violent crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem prosecuted the case.