Stopsatprettyplaces Guilty of Sexually Abusing Child on Crow Reservation

BILLINGS — A federal jury convicted a Billings man Tuesday of sexually assaulting a child on the Crow Indian Reservation, marking another case in a series of federal prosecutions targeting child sexual abuse on Montana tribal lands^1.

Matthew Paul Stopsatprettyplaces, 49, was found guilty of abusive sexual contact of a child following a 1.5-day trial in Billings Federal District Court, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office^2. He faces up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine, and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the trial and will determine sentencing after considering federal guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for April 8, 2026.

The Abuse

Prosecutors presented evidence that in 2019, Stopsatprettyplaces sexually assaulted a 9-year-old girl while giving her a ride to a family member's residence in Hardin, according to court documents.

"He took advantage of Jane Doe while she was asleep," prosecutors stated. "He first put his hands on Jane Doe's thighs which woke Jane Doe up. But Stopsatprettyplaces continued the assault by putting his hand on her inner thighs and then under Jane Doe's shirt and fondling her bare breasts."

On a subsequent occasion at the victim's house in Hardin, Stopsatprettyplaces assaulted the then-10-year-old girl again by kissing her and fondling her over her clothes, according to trial evidence.

Mandatory Reporting Triggered Investigation

The victim disclosed the sexual abuse several years later to a therapist, who made a mandatory report to the child abuse hotline, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. That report triggered an immediate FBI investigation.

The case highlights the critical role of mandatory reporting requirements for therapists and other professionals who work with children.

Federal Jurisdiction

The case was prosecuted in federal court because the crimes occurred on the Crow Indian Reservation, where federal authorities have jurisdiction over major crimes involving Native American victims or defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kelsey Hendricks and Paul Vestal prosecuted the case, with the FBI conducting the investigation.