BIA Found Liable For Former Officer’s Actions Regarding Sexual Assault While On Duty

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is going to have to pay up to a Lame Deer, Montana woman, because one of its former officers misused his authority.

In 2015, former officer Dana Bullcoming, who was on duty at the time, threatened the victim with criminal charges unless she agreed to a sexual encounter with him.

Bullcoming later pleaded guilty to one charge of sexual assault and was sentenced to 3 years in prison.

The victim, who became pregnant in the encounter, later sued the BIA in federal court and after several rejections and appeals, the Montana Supreme Court ruled the agency could be held liable for Bullcoming’s actions.

TV Station KTVQ reports the victim was recently awarded $1.6 million by a Montana U.S. District Court Judge.