A Custer man has been sentenced to prison time in connection with a drug case that began in circuit court and later became a federal case.

Steve Buchanan, 56, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Andrew Bogue to 80 months in prison and three years of supervised release for manufacturing methamphetamine. Buchanan, who pleaded not guilty, was convicted by a federal jury in July.

Buchanan was originally charged in 7th Circuit Court with manufacturing a controlled substance in Custer in February 2006. Statements Buchanan had made to Custer County law enforcement were tossed out of court because he had requested - but had not been given access to - an attorney before he was interviewed by investigators.

As a result, 7th Circuit Judge Pete Fuller granted a motion to also suppress physical evidence that was seized from Buchanan's home after his interview. However, prosecutors said a confidential informant had already given investigators information that would have led them to search Buchanan's home, regardless of anything Buchanan told officers.

The case was later filed in federal court, where Bogue ruled that the physical evidence was obtained independently of the statements and could be introduced at trial.

In other federal court news:

* Benjamin High Horse, 21, Kyle, pleaded guilty to a charge of abusive sexual contact. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, he admitted having sexual contact with a 6-year-old girl. The maximum penalty is six years in prison and a $250,000 fine. High Horse is in custody pending sentencing Jan. 21.

* Dominic Helper Johnson, 23, Whiteriver, Ariz., pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact. According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office, he admitted having sexual contact with a child younger than 16 in 2002. The maximum penalty is two years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He was originally indicted on eight counts of aggravated sexual abuse. Johnson was released on bond pending sentencing Jan. 12.

* Frances Spotted War Bonnet, 20, St. Francis, pleaded guilty to distribution of a controlled substance, admitting that she distributed marijuana on April 29 in Winner. The maximum penalty is one year in prison and a fine of at least $1,000. Spotted War Bonnet was released on bond pending sentencing.

* Joshua Walking Eagle, 19, Rosebud, pleaded not guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. According to federal court documents, he is accused of kicking and biting a juvenile girl in Todd County on Aug. 14. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each count is 10 years in prison, plus fines. No trial date was set.

* Erik Todd LaRoche, 23, Lower Brule, pleaded not guilty to escape. Federal court documents show he is accused of failing to return from work release to Winner City Jail, where he was incarcerated for interstate transportation of a stolen vehicle. The maximum penalty upon conviction for escape is five years in prison and a $250,000 fine. He is in custody pending trial.

Editor's note: The U.S. District Court generally prosecutes felonies committed on reservations, but 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.