OGLALA, S.D. - A former Oglala Sioux Tribe law enforcement officer has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for aggravated sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact. Oscar Hudspeth Sr. was convicted of sexually abusing a young girl at her home while her mother was at work. At the time of the crime, Hudspeth was serving as an officer with the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety.

“This case represents a tragedy on many fronts, including that the child victim suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of a person sworn to uphold the law,” said U.S. Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell after Hudspeth was found guilty. “Our office's prosecution is a reminder that no one—not even a police officer—is above the law.”

Hudspeth was indicted by a federal grand jury in Dec. 2023 and found guilty following a federal jury trial in Oct. 2024.

The case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative launched by the Department of Justice in 2006 to combat growing child sexual exploitation and abuse.