A St. Francis man who already faces numerous federal charges of assault and sexual abuse has now been charged with child abuse, as well.

Eric J. King, 25, pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to an indictment charging him with child abuse. Federal court documents show he is accused of abusing a St. Francis child in June 2007.

King is already awaiting trial in two other federal cases. He is scheduled to stand trial Sept. 23 on charges of sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact involving a child younger than 12 years old and a child between 12 and 16 years old.

In addition, King is charged with assaulting a federal officer and a Todd County woman and with sexual abuse, aiding and abetting for having sexual contact with a woman unable to give consent. He is scheduled to go on trial Oct. 14 on those charges.

The maximum penalty for child abuse is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. King is in custody.

In other federal court news:

* Cynthia T. Doran, 19, Mission, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to 27 months in prison and three years of supervised release and ordered to pay $20 to a woman Doran assaulted in Todd County. Doran pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting, admitting that she assaulted the 22-year-old woman on Oct. 2.

* Francis "Inky" West, 48, Eagle Butte, pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, the charge involved a conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine in South Dakota between January 2002 and January 2008. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. West is in custody pending sentencing.

* Lyle Eagle Tail, 24, Wanblee, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eagle Tail was convicted of a felony in 2005, but on March 31, he illegally possessed a Peerless bolt action .22-caliber rifle that was discovered when law enforcement officers were called to his home to investigate a disturbance. The maximum penalty is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Eagle Tail is in custody pending sentencing Oct. 21.

* Donald Kills Warrior, 31, Porcupine, pleaded not guilty to two counts of having sexual contact with a girl younger than 12 years old. According to federal court documents, Kills Warrior is accused of having sexual contact with the girl between 2005 and 2006 near Kyle and on Sept. 16, near Porcupine. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Kills Warrior was released on bond pending trial.

* Vincent Wayne Thompson Jr., also known as R-2 and Rocky, no age listed, of Lower Brule, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with abusive sexual contact with a child. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, he is accused of having sexual contact with a child younger than 12 years on June 11. The maximum penalty upon conviction is life in prison and a $250,000 fine. Thompson was detained pending trial.

* Anthony "Squashy" White Mountain, 51, McLaughlin, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and two counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to federal court documents, he is accused of using a knife to assault two people in Corson County on Nov. 30. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. White Mountain is in custody pending trial Sept. 29.

* Leslie Shooter, 42, Eagle Butte, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Federal court documents show he is accused of using a baton to assault two Eagle Butte women on June 25, 2006. Each charge carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine upon conviction. Shooter is on house arrest pending trial Oct. 7.

Editor's Note: The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations, and tribal courts handle misdemeanor crimes. Felonies that happen off the reservation are prosecuted in state/circuit court and are reported separately in the Journal. Some drug and firearms cases are also prosecuted in federal court.