John Thompson, a 44-year-old resident of Fort Thompson, South Dakota, has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for abusive sexual contact. U.S. District Judge Eric C. Schulte handed down the sentence on September 22, 2025. Following his prison term, Thompson will serve five years of supervised release and must pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.
Thompson was indicted by a federal grand jury in November 2024 and pleaded guilty on June 20, 2025. The conviction relates to an incident that took place between August 1, 2010, and August 31, 2011, on the Crow Creek Sioux Indian Reservation. During this period, Thompson fondled the genitalia of a boy under twelve years old.
United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell stated: “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.”
The case is part of Project Safe Childhood—a nationwide initiative started by the Department of Justice in May 2006—to address child sexual exploitation and abuse. The program brings together federal, state, and local resources to prosecute offenders and assist victims. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI and the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Office of Justice Services – Crow Creek Agency. Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy R. Morley led the prosecution.
After sentencing, Thompson was remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.
