(Fremont County, WY) – The federal jury trial for Kandace Sitting Eagle concluded today, June 13, where she was found guilty of all three charges filed against her, and a sentencing hearing was set for August 29.
The trial was overseen by the Honorable Judge Alan B. Johnson.
Sitting Eagle was charged with and found guilty of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, assault with a dangerous weapon, and aggravated child abuse.
(Originally there was a kidnapping charge in the mix, but that was later dropped.)
Sitting Eagle faced these charges after law enforcement reportedly discovered a juvenile in her and her husband Truman’s care back in late 2023, who was being kept from school, locked in his room, deprived of food for long periods of time, and had been physically assaulted on multiple occasions.
“The investigation proved that the child had suffered weeks of physical beatings, isolation, starvation, and psychological abuse at the hands of Kandace and Truman,” a press release from the Department of Justice released on June 13 states.
Sitting Eagle faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
The originally scheduled July 9 sentencing hearing for Truman Sitting Eagle has been reset for August 6, following the conclusion of today’s jury trial for Kandace.
Truman changed his original plea of “not guilty” to all charges, to “guilty” of the assault resulting in serious bodily injury charge, as per non-publicly available plea agreement stipulations.
He also faces no less than 10 years and up to life imprisonment, up to a $250,000 fine, and up to five years of supervised release.
Kandace’s mother Karen Rider, who has been charged with witness tampering in this case, is currently out on bond and awaiting potential sentencing following the conclusion of these sentencings.
County 10 will provide updates on Rider’s case, which can be viewed here, as well as the Sittingeagle’s sentencing hearings, which can be viewed here.