Red Lake caretaker sentenced to 66 months for child sex abuse
A 77-year-old Red Lake man got 66 months after abusing three minors over a decade, a case that ran through federal court.
Leland Whitefeather Sr., 77, was sentenced to 66 months in prison for sexually abusing three minors between 2009 and 2019 in Red Lake Nation. Whitefeather was acting as a caretaker to the victims when the abuse occurred, and he admitted to knowingly engaging in sexual acts with multiple minors.
Whitefeather’s case was handled in federal court by the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota.
Families seeking help in Red Lake can contact the Red Lake General Crime Victim Program at 218-679-3737 for sexual assault or domestic violence assistance, or call 1-800-943-8997 toll free. Red Lake Nation’s Family and Children Services handles child protective services, foster care, children’s mental health, adult protective services and ICWA matters.
In Bemidji and across Beltrami County, the Family Advocacy Center of Northern Minnesota is at 1000 Paul Bunyan Dr NW, Suite 118, and can be reached at 218-333-6011. The Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office, Bemidji Police Department and Blackduck Police Department are served through the Law Enforcement Center at 613 Minnesota Avenue NW in Bemidji, with the victim information line at 218-333-9111 or 800-449-9111. Minnesota’s statewide 24-hour hotline for domestic abuse, sexual assault and sex trafficking is 866-223-1111.
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