Oklahoma man at center of tribal sovereignty case sentenced

MUSKOGEE, Okla. (AP) — A member of Oklahoma's Seminole Nation whose case led to a landmark ruling on criminal jurisdiction over tribal lands has been sentenced to life in federal prison for sexual abuse of a child .

Federal prosecutors in Muskogee announced Wednesday evening that Jimcy McGirt, 72, was sentenced to life in prison on two counts of aggravated sexual abuse in Indian Country.

McGirt was initially convicted in state court and sentenced to 500 years in prison in 1997 for the assaults that occurred on Muscogee (Creek) Nation land.

But the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that the tribe's reservation was never removed and that federal courts or tribal nations have jurisdiction over crimes committed by or against Native Americans on tribal lands, not against the state.

He was later indicted in federal court in Muskogee, where a federal jury convicted him in November of sexually assaulting a 4-year-old child. The victim, now in her 20s, testified in his case.

“The sentences imposed today are the culmination of many hours of investigation, case preparation, legal research and presentation of the case by Assistant United States Attorneys Sarah McAmis and Courtney Jordan,” said the Acting U.S. Attorney Christopher Wilson in a statement.

McGirt's lawyer, Richard O'Carroll, said McGirt plans to appeal his conviction.