Chehalis Tribal Member Sentenced to Prison for Abusive Sexual Contact

            A 31-year-old Chehalis Tribes member was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 21-months in prison and five years of supervised release for abusive sexual contact, announced U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran.  ANTHONY TODD YOUCKTON, JR, pleaded guilty October 4, 2018 admitting he sexually molested a woman who was incapacitated by alcohol in July 2016.  At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Ronald B. Leighton said the assault was a tragic event in the victim’s life.

            According to records filed in the case, YOUCKTON and a female friend gave the intoxicated woman a ride home after a night of drinking.  Because the woman was drunk, the two placed her in her bed and left the home.  YOUCKTON returned to the woman’s home later in the overnight hours, got into the woman’s bed and molested her.   When she awoke the next morning and found YOUCKTON in her bed, she called the tribal police.  YOUCKTON was charged federally and arrested on February 13, 2018.

            In asking for a 21-month term of imprisonment, prosecutors noted the devastating and life-long impact on the victim from the trauma of sexual abuse.  Prosecutors asked for a 5-year-term of supervised release following the prison term, because of YOUCKTON’s history of drug and alcohol abuse.

            The case was prosecuted in federal court because the crime occurred on tribal land involving a tribal defendant.

            The case was investigated by the Chehalis Tribal Police and the FBI.  The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys J. Tate London and Rebecca Cohen.  Both attorneys serve as Tribal Liaisons for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.