Two Neopit Residents Indicted on Child Abuse and Neglect Charges
A federal grand jury returned a two count indictment in December against Louis A. Tucker and Nyomi L.M. Acosta of Neopit, charging them with child abuse and child neglect for injuries allegedly inflicted on a Native American child. The case, brought under federal statutes that apply in Indian country, raises local concerns about child safety, coordination between tribal and federal authorities, and resources for victims and families.
On December 9 a federal grand jury returned a two count indictment against Louis A. Tucker, age 23, and Nyomi L.M. Acosta, age 21, both of Neopit. The U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced the indictment on December 19. The charges allege that between about September 29 and October 20, 2025 the defendants recklessly caused great bodily harm to a Native American child and failed to provide necessary care and medical attention.
Count One charges both defendants with Child Abuse under 18 U.S.C. sections 1153 and 2, and Wisconsin Statute 948.03 subsection 3 a, an offense that carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Count Two charges Child Neglect under 18 U.S.C. sections 1153 and 2, and Wisconsin Statute 948.21 subsections 2 and 3 b 1, with a maximum sentence of seven and one half years. The indictment also notes potential fines, a special assessment, and terms of supervised release following any sentence.
The indictment alleges that the child suffered bruising and other marks, a fractured left radius and ulna, and burns to the back and torso. The Menominee Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation investigated the matter with assistance from Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Maier will prosecute the case in United States District Court in Green Bay.
For Menominee County residents the charges underscore immediate concerns about the safety of children and the functioning of protective systems on the Menominee Indian Reservation. The use of federal statutes that apply in Indian country highlights the intersection of tribal authority and federal jurisdiction in serious criminal matters. Local law enforcement and medical providers were involved in the investigation, and prosecution in federal court means proceedings will take place outside the reservation.
An indictment is a formal accusation and not evidence of guilt. The defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a fair trial at which the government must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The case will likely prompt scrutiny of child welfare resources and coordination between tribal, federal, and medical agencies as the community seeks accountability and supports for victims.
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