The following news report was posted through my e-mail by Sarah Deer who is a friend of mine and is a very strong leader in the movement to end violence against Native women. I am truly inspired by her work and passion to end violence in all native communities... thank you Sarah!

http://www.daily- times.com/ news/ci_5933925



Utah man arrested for allegedly raping 15-year-old girl

By Rhys Saunders The Daily Times

Article Launched: 05/19/2007 12:00:00 AM MDT



FARMINGTON — Police arrested a 68-year-old Utah man — who is reported

to be a medicine man — Friday afternoon following an extended FBI and

local investigation into allegations he raped a 15-year-old girl in

2002.

David Filfred's 15-year-old victim later gave birth to a daughter, a

fact FBI agents confirmed as being 99.98 percent accurate based on

DNA samples taken from the elderly man, a police report states.



The victim later claimed she feared Filfred would "put some type of

spiritual harm on her" if she spoke about the attack, an arrest

affidavit states.



Because Filfred and his victim both lived in Utah on the Navajo

Nation, federal agents initially investigated the crime after the

victim reported the incident, according to Farmington Police

Detective Sgt. Robert Perez. After agents learned the alleged sexual

attack occurred in Farmington, the investigation was turned over to

local officers.



"There was an FBI case, but they asked for our assistance," he

said. "They worked the case a little bit and then

turned it back over to us because the crime occurred here."

Filfred faces charges of first-degree felony criminal sexual

penetration and two counts of fourth-degree felony contributing to

the delinquency of a minor, he said. He is being held at the San Juan

County Detention Center.



The 15-year-old victim claimed Filfred drove her and her cousin to

Farmington for a shopping trip, the affidavit states. Filfred

promised the victim's aunt he would return the girls back to their

Aneth, Utah, home by 5 p.m. that day.



After shopping in Farmington and attending a powwow, Filfred took the

two young girls to a local motel room for the night, claiming "he was

tired," the affidavit states.



The victim claimed Filfred bought some beer, which they all drank,

before the three went to sleep, the victim and her cousin in one bed

and Filfred in the other.



In the morning, the victim learned she was raped in the middle of the

night, court documents state. When she later approached Filfred about

the pregnancy, he "did not say anything."



In an interview with Farmington police, Filfred first denied any

knowledge of the rape, saying the victim "was drinking; she was a

heavy drinker," the affidavit states.



Officers then informed Filfred he was positively identified by a DNA

test as the father of the victim's child.



"He responded, ah-uh,'" the affidavit states. "I told him he knew he

had sex with (her) ... He again responded, ah-uh.'"



Filfred again denied the involvement.



"I asked why he was having sex with her when he knew it was wrong,"

the detective states in the affidavit. "He responded, Well when we

were drinking I guess there was ... we were having drinks but having

sex with her I don't remember. I don't know."



However, the victim's cousin later told police she was afraid of her

attacker.



She "stated Filfred is a medicine man' and he does ceremonies for the

family," the affidavit states. "She indicated she was worried he

would put some type of spiritual harm on her because he is a medicine

man."



However, the victim's cousin later claimed the victim "drank a lot

that night," but Filfred "didn't drink much."



"She indicated (the victim) was acting weird," the affidavit

states. "(The victim) was saying things like, let's put the beds

together.'"



When the friend later came out of the motel bathroom, she claims the

victim "was laying on (Filfred)."