Jaden Bryce Smith, 26, of Stilwell, pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country. The federal charge carries a potential sentence of up to life in prison and a fine of as much as $250,000. The case involved local, tribal and federal law enforcement.
The plea was announced Wednesday by FBI Oklahoma City.
The bureau said Smith faces up to life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Its post did not detail the specific facts underlying the charge or provide a plea agreement, sentencing date, or hearing transcript.
Multiple Agencies Involved in Investigation
According to the FBI Oklahoma City post, the case was investigated by the FBI's Oklahoma City field office and the Cherokee Nation Marshal Service. Separate case information identifies Stilwell police as an additional investigating agency in the matter.
The prosecution has been handled by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, per case information tied to the announcement.
What Remains Unknown
Beyond the FBI's brief case update, few additional details about the circumstances of the charge, the timeline of the alleged offense, or the identities of the attorneys and judge involved in the case have been made public. It is not yet known whether Smith has been sentenced or when a sentencing hearing might occur.
National data on sexual violence
The Bureau of Indian Affairs cites a 2016 National Institute of Justice study finding that 56.1 percent of American Indian and Alaska Native women had experienced sexual violence in their lifetime. That national, population-level finding does not establish anything about this individual case.
The FBI's Oklahoma City office announced the guilty plea and maximum penalties, and identified the investigating agencies and the prosecuting U.S. Attorney's Office. Any further developments in the case, including sentencing, would likely come through additional updates from federal authorities.
