The United States Attorney's Office

Northern District of Iowa

Press Releases

FEDERAL JURY CONVICTS TWO FOR SEXUAL ABUSE OF WOMAN ON MESKWAKI SETTLEMENT

June 29, 2007

Contact: Ian Thornhill

United States Attorney Matt M. Dummermuth announced today that a man and woman, both members of the Sac & Fox Tribe of the Mississippi in Iowa, who sexually abused an adult female at the Meskwaki Settlement, were convicted by a jury on June 28, 2007, after a four-day trial in federal court in Cedar Rapids.

LAMONT WILLIAM PAPAKEE, 35, and CONNIE FRANCIS BLACKCLOUD, 47, both from Tama, Iowa, were each convicted of one count of sexual abuse of a woman with an object. The verdict was returned yesterday afternoon following about one day of jury deliberations. The jury acquitted each defendant on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse.

The evidence at trial showed that PAPAKEE and BLACKCLOUD sexually abused an adult female on the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama County in September 2006 by penetrating her with an object while she was passed out from drinking alcohol.

Sentencing before United States District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade will be set after a presentence report is prepared. PAPAKEE and BLACKCLOUD remain in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Each defendant faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a $100 special assessment, and a life term of supervised release following any imprisonment.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Ian K. Thornhill and was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Meskwaki Nation Police Department, and the Tama County Sheriff’s Office.