A Rosebud man convicted of molesting two children has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.

Joseph E. Espinosa, Sr., 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Charles Kornmann to the mandatory minimum sentence of 30 years in prison, plus five years supervised release. Espinosa was convicted of one count of abusive sexual contact and one count of aggravated sexual abuse following a jury trial last April.

In other federal court news:

• Jeff Jerred, 45, Box Elder, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to two years in prison and five years supervised release after pleading guilty to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. Federal court documents show he admitted to possessing methamphetamine between August and December 2006.
• Kay Hart Cook, 26, 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, he admitted to distributing marijuana in Ziebach County between May 2007 and February 2008. The maximum penalty is 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Cook was released on bond pending sentencing Jan. 12.
• William Clifford, 19, Pine Ridge, pleaded guilty to escape. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Clifford had been arrested on a federal warrant and was being held by the Oglala Sioux Tribe when he escaped from their facility on June 8. He faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced Dec. 8. Clifford is in custody.
• Anthony Poor Bear, 42, Allen, pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact, admitting that he had sexual contact with a girl under 16 years old. The maximum penalty is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Poor Bear is in custody pending sentencing Dec. 16.
• Kirk Johnson, 39, Dupree, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor violation of the Lacey Act. The charge relates to Johnson violating tribal and federal wildlife regulations by guiding hunters in deer hunts without proper licenses. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, some hunts occurred on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in violation of the law because the hunters, who were supposed to have Cheyenne River Sioux hunting licenses, instead had been provided with Standing Rock Sioux big game deer licenses, which were not valid on Cheyenne River Sioux tribal land. The maximum penalty is one year in prison and a $100,000 fine. Johnson's wife, Frankie Johnson, already pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor Lacey Act violation. Kirk Johnson was released on bond pending sentencing Jan. 12.
• Joshua Patton, 33, Spearfish, pleaded not guilty to a charge of depredation of government property. Federal court documents show he is accused of intentionally damaging a U.S. Forest Service sign valued at more than $1,000. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. Patton was released on bond pending trial.

The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations, while 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.