U.S. Department of Justice  DAVID E. O’MEILIA United States Attorney Northern District of Oklahoma 110 West 7 th Street, Suite 300                                            Tulsa , Oklahoma   74119-1013                                     (918) 382-2700 Fax (918) 560-7940   NEWS RELEASE March 14, 2008 Tulsa , Oklahoma   Contact: Randal Edgmon

Oklahoma Man Charged with Sex Crimes Against Children in Indian Country Apprehended in Dallas

United States Attorney David E. O’Meilia announced the apprehension today of  Kimberly Chancellor, Indian male, age 42, of Kenwood , Oklahoma . 

Chancellor was arrested in Dallas , Texas , earlier today by local authorities there working with the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force. A two count indictment, returned by the Grand Jury in the Northern District of Oklahoma on February 6, 2008 , charges Chancellor with the crimes of Attempted Aggravated Sexual Abuse By Force of a Minor in Indian Country and Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Minor in Indian Country.  Count One accuses Chancellor of attempting to engage in a sexual act by the use of force with an Indian female child under the age of 16 on May 20, 2007 .  Count Two accuses him of the forcible rape of another Indian female child under the age of twelve in the summer of 2003.  These offenses allegedly occurred in Delaware County in Northeastern Oklahoma .

After his arrest, Chancellor made an initial appearance in federal magistrate court in Dallas .  He will be transferred to Tulsa , Oklahoma , to appear in federal court in the Northern District of Oklahoma.  If he is found guilty of the charged offenses he faces a prison sentence of not less than 30 years and up to life, and/or a $250,000 fine.

This case is being prosecuted in federal court because the alleged crimes occurred in Indian Country, where major criminal offenses fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Courts.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Trent Shores is representing the government in this case.  The investigation was undertaken by the Cherokee Nation Marshals Service and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The return of an indictment against an individual is one method of informing him  of alleged violations of criminal law which must be proven in a court of law beyond a reasonable doubt to overcome the individual’s  presumption of innocence.