Poplar Man Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Two Underage Girls on Fort Peck Reservation

POPLAR — A Poplar man pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexually abusing two underage girls on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, using social media to contact victims and providing drugs to facilitate the assaults.

Emmett Alfred Buckles, 41, admitted to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris in Great Falls Federal District Court. He faces up to 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to lifetime supervised release when sentenced January 14, 2026.

The case adds to mounting federal prosecutions targeting crimes against children and violent offenses on Montana’s tribal lands, following recent convictions for drug trafficking and sexual assault on reservations across the state.

Facebook Contact Led to Hours-Long Assault

Court documents reveal how Buckles used Facebook to contact his first victim on January 22, 2024, while she was drinking and using drugs.

“Doe 1 was drinking and doing drugs when Buckles contacted her via Facebook,” prosecutors stated in court filings.

After meeting up, Buckles brought the victim to his Poplar residence where he sexually assaulted her in what she described as an attack lasting hours. The victim disclosed the abuse during a forensic interview in March 2024 and provided detailed descriptions of Buckles’ bedroom layout and personal items.

Second Victim Injected with Methamphetamine

A second victim, also between 12 and 16 years old, told investigators in January 2024 that Buckles injected her with methamphetamine before the assault.

“Doe 2 was using meth with Buckles, and he shot her up with meth. Buckles then sexually assaulted her,” according to court documents.

The second victim drew a sketch of Buckles’ bedroom that matched the first victim’s description, providing corroborating evidence for investigators.

Search Warrant Confirms Victims’ Accounts

Federal agents executed a search warrant at Buckles’ Poplar home, finding that the bedroom layout and personal property matched both victims’ detailed statements.

“Many details regarding the layout of Buckles’ bedroom were consistent with both Jane Does’ statements. This included the layout and various items of personal property,” prosecutors noted.

Law enforcement also obtained Facebook messages between Buckles and the second victim as part of their investigation.

Tribal and Federal Collaboration

The case represents continued collaboration between federal and tribal authorities in prosecuting serious crimes on Indian Country. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the joint investigation.

Federal prosecutors have increasingly targeted crimes against children and violent offenses on Montana reservations, with recent cases including child enticement charges in Missoula Federal District Court and the state’s first prosecution under new AI child abuse laws.

Buckles remains detained pending his January sentencing hearing.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation,” U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme’s office stated.