Federal jury convicts Antlers man of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (KXII) - The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced Friday that Stetson Bruce, 33, of Antlers, was found guilty by a Federal jury of two counts of Aggravated Sexual Abuse in Indian Country.
The jury trial began with testimony on Tuesday, July 19, 2022, and concluded on Thursday, July 21, 2022, with the guilty verdicts.
During the trial, the United States presented evidence that the defendant sexually assaulted a 5-year-old multiple times during the time period of May 1, 2018, to May 31, 2020. The evidence further revealed another child witnessed the abuse at least once.
The guilty verdicts were the result of an investigation by the Pushmataha County Sheriff’s Office, the Choctaw Nation Tribal Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma prosecuted the case because the defendant is a member of a federally recognized Indian tribe and the crimes occurred in Pushmataha County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, and within the Eastern District of Oklahoma.
The Honorable Bernard M. Jones, II, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, sitting in Oklahoma City, presided over the trial and ordered the completion of a presentence report. Sentencing will be scheduled following completion of the report.
Bruce was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending the imposition of sentencing.
Assistant United States Attorneys Anthony C. Marek and Hannah Jones represented the United States.
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