Rushmore State News

A McLaughlin, South Dakota man has been sentenced to over 31 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to aggravated sexual abuse of a child. The sentencing was announced by United States Attorney Alison J. Ramsdell and took place on August 18, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann.

Kurtis Charles Cross, 67, received a sentence of 31 years and eight months in federal prison, followed by five years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund.

Cross was indicted by a federal grand jury in September 2024 and pleaded guilty on June 3, 2025.

The incident occurred in late 2023 at a home in McLaughlin within the Standing Rock Reservation. According to court documents, Cross was left alone with a three-year-old girl for about twenty minutes on August 4, 2024. When an adult household member returned home, she found the child visibly distressed and witnessed Cross committing the abuse. The incident was reported immediately to law enforcement.

"This matter was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office because the Major Crimes Act, a federal statute, authorizes certain crimes alleged to have occurred in Indian country to be prosecuted in federal court as opposed to State court," according to the announcement.

The case is part of Project Safe Childhood, an initiative launched by the Department of Justice in May 2006 aimed at combating child sexual exploitation and abuse nationwide through coordinated efforts among federal, state, and local agencies. More information about Project Safe Childhood can be found at https://www.justice.gov/psc.

The investigation involved the FBI, Bureau of Indian Affairs – Office of Justice Services, and Corson County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Thunem led the prosecution.

Cross has been remanded into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service.