United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sisseton, South Dakota, man convicted of abusive sexual contact was sentenced on June 3, 2019, by U.S. District Jude Charles B. Kornmann.

Joel Michael Max, age 30, was sentenced to 120 months in federal prison, to be followed by 10 years of supervised release.  He was ordered to pay $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund. 

According to court documents, between March 23, 2018, and June 2, 2018, Max did knowingly engage in, and attempt to engage in, sexual contact with a child.  Max acted with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, and degrade the child, and to arouse and gratify his sexual desires. 

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri prosecuted the case.   

Max was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.

United States Attorney Ron Parsons announced that a Sisseton, South Dakota, man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for aggravated sexual abuse of a child and for sexual abuse.

Joel Michael Max, age 29, was indicted on September 5, 2018.  He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge William Gerdes on October 15, 2018, and pled not guilty to the Indictment.

According to the Indictment, between September 2016 and June 2018, in Roberts County, South Dakota, Max engaged in and attempted to engage in sexual acts with a child.  The maximum penalties upon conviction for each count are as follows: life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, or both; a mandatory minimum term of five (5) years, up to life, of supervised release; $100 special assessment for victim/witness fund; $5,000 assessment to the domestic trafficking fund; and restitution may be ordered.

The charges are merely accusations and Max is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. 

The investigation is being conducted by the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate Sioux Tribe’s Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy R. Jehangiri is prosecuting the case.   

Max was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service.  A trial date has been set for December 18, 2018.