Ft.Totten Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child

FARGO - United States Attorney Drew H. Wrigley announced that on September 21, 2007, Norris James Lohnes of Ft.Totten, North Dakota, was found guilty by a 12-person jury of aggravated sexual abuse and sexual abuse of a child. The jury deliberated less than three hours after a week-long trial. The case was presided over by United States District Court Judge Rodney S. Webb.

Lohnes, 22, was found guilty of forcing a 7-year-old female child to engage in sexual contact between his penis and the mouth of the child. The incident occurred in September of 2006 on the Spirit Lake Indian Reservation.-

Lohnes is the first defendant to be convicted in North Dakota under the recently enacted Adam Wash Act which increased penalties for sex offenses against children.

“Young victims of sexual assault are especially vulnerable and deserving of our protection,” said U.S. Attorney Drew Wrigley. “Lohnes now faces a minimum mandatory sentence of 30 years in federal prison, and the young girl he assaulted knows that she bravely stood up, told the truth and secured justice for herself and the community.”

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Ft. Totten Police Department.

Sentencing for Lohnes has been scheduled for December 18, 2007, in United States District Court in Fargo, North Dakota.