Fort Thompson man pleads guilty to failing to register as a sex offender

A Fort Thompson man pleaded guilty recently to failing to register as a sex offender.

Simon Antelope Jr., 33, appeared before U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange on Aug. 14. Antelope was convicted of abusive sexual contact in 2007. As a condition of his release, he was required to register as a sex offender.

Before he left Sioux Falls, Antelope signed registration papers four times. Bureau of Indian Affairs officers arrested him in April.

In addition, he pleaded guilty to an indictment filed in a separate case for assaulting a federal officer.

When officers booked Antelope for failing to register, he shoved and then charged an officer. A physical struggle ensued and resulted in Antelope striking the officer in the forehead with his hand.

The maximum penalty for failure to register is 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both. The maximum penalty for assaulting a federal officer is eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine or both.

Lange ordered a presentence investigation and scheduled sentencing for November.

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