Man sentenced to prison for sexually abusing 9-year-old girl
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FORT HALL — A Fort Hall man will spend more than 17 years in federal prison after being convicted of sexually abusing a young girl on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
Shone Jem Bache, 47, was sentenced to 17.5 years in federal prison for abusive sexual contact with a child under 12, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced. U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Bache to serve five years of supervised release after his prison term and register as a sex offender.
According to court records, the investigation began after a 9-year-old girl told family members and school staff that Bache had sexually abused her. The child reported multiple instances of abuse that occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.
The FBI and Fort Hall Police Department investigated the allegations and were able to corroborate portions of the girl’s account through physical evidence and statements from witnesses, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“I hope this outcome provides some closure and justice to the victim and her family,” Davis said. “I am grateful for the partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department and their dedication to identifying and investigating those who commit egregious acts of sexual abuse on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.”
FBI Salt Lake City Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls said no sentence can undo the trauma suffered by a child but expressed hope that the outcome would provide some comfort as the victim heals.
“Children deserve to grow up safe,” Bohls said. “Alongside our Tribal and law enforcement partners, the FBI will never stop fighting to protect the most vulnerable and bring offenders to justice.”