Arapahoe couple to be sentenced for aggravated child abuse and more | News

Kandace Sitting Eagle, 33, of Arapahoe, was convicted by a federal jury on Thursday, June 13, of aggravated child abuse, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon. The four-day trial took place before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson in Cheyenne.

According to trial evidence, on December 12, 2023, an Arapahoe school resource officer conducted a welfare check on a 13-year-old student who had not been to school in more than a month. He eventually found the child in a crawl space under the trailer where the parents, Kandace and Truman Sitting Eagle, were hiding the child. Given the severity of his injuries, the child was immediately taken to SageWest Hospital in Riverton and then transported by air ambulance to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The investigation proved that the child had suffered weeks of physical beatings, isolation, starvation and emotional abuse at the hands of Kandace and Truman.

Sentencing was set for August 29. Kandace Sitting Eagle faces not less than 10 years and up to life in prison, up to a $250,000 fine and up to five years of supervised release.

Truman Sitting Eagle, 36, pleaded guilty to assault causing serious bodily injury on April 8. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 6 before U.S. District Court Judge Alan B. Johnson in Cheyenne. He also faces up to 10 years in prison or up to life in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and up to five years of supervised release.

A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors in both cases. This crime was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron J. Cook.