Wapato Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Attempted Abusive Sexual Contact on Yakama Reservation

YAKIMA, WA — A Wapato man has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for attempting to engage in abusive sexual contact with a child under the age of 12 on the Yakama Reservation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.

Chief U.S. District Judge Stanley A. Bastian issued the sentence to 19-year-old Shawn De Sun Speedis, who will also serve five years of supervised release after completing his prison term. As part of the conviction, Speedis must register as a sex offender.

Federal officials said the incident occurred on October 31, 2024. According to court records, Speedis made inappropriate sexual advances toward an 11-year-old child after she returned home from trick-or-treating. When the child repeatedly declined, Speedis exposed himself.

U.S. Attorney Pete Serrano said cases involving harm to children remain a top priority for federal, tribal and state partners.

“The sexual abuse of children is some of the most serious conduct we confront as a community,” Serrano said. He emphasized that the sentence reflects an ongoing commitment to supporting victims and holding offenders accountable.

FBI Seattle Special Agent in Charge W. Mike Herrington said the child endured a “traumatic experience,” adding that the sentence and required registration demonstrate the long-term consequences of such actions.

The case was investigated by the FBI and the Yakama Nation Tribal Police Department. It was prosecuted by Missing or Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Assistant U.S. Attorney Bree R. Black Horse as part of the Department of Justice’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program, which focuses on improving coordination and response efforts in Indigenous communities.

 

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