United States Attorney Vanessa Waldref announced that Geordell Devon Arthur, a 23-year-old resident of Wapato, Washington, has been sentenced to 12 months in federal prison. The sentencing was handed down by United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke on January 24, 2025. Arthur was convicted on one count of unlawful sexual contact and will also face five years of supervised release following his imprisonment. Additionally, he is required to register as a sex offender.
Arthur's conviction stems from an incident that occurred when he was 19 years old. According to court documents and statements made during the sentencing hearing, Arthur made unlawful sexual contact with a 13-year-old girl on the Yakama Nation Indian Reservation around May 10, 2021. It was reported that Arthur's friends threatened the victim with harm if she reported the incident to law enforcement.
U.S. Attorney Waldref emphasized the impact such crimes have on victims: "The harm to victims in cases like these cannot be understated," she said. She commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward despite attempts to silence her and reiterated her office's commitment to protecting vulnerable community members.
W. Mike Herrington, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office, praised both the victim's courage and the efforts of investigators: “Mr. Arthur assaulted and then tried to intimidate his victim into silence,” he stated. “However, she displayed courage instead of fear and now her attacker is headed to prison."
The investigation was conducted by the FBI along with the Yakama Nation Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Michael Murphy prosecuted the case.