Poplar Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse
A Poplar man who sexual abused two victims on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation admitted to charges on Tuesday, Sept. 9, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
The defendant, Emmett Alfred Buckles, 41, pleaded guilty to two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. Buckles faces a term of 15 years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and five years to a lifetime of supervised release.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Jan. 14, 2026. Buckles was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that in March of 2024, Jane Doe 1 was forensically interviewed and disclosed she was sexually abused by Buckles. Doe 1 described that on Jan. 22, 2024, she was drinking and doing drugs when Buckles contacted her via Facebook. Doe 1 was over the age of 12, but under the age of 16. Buckles was 39. Buckles then joined Doe 1 and they hung out together.
Later in the night and into early next morning Doe 1 and Buckles ended up at his house in Poplar. While there, Buckles sexually abused Doe in an assault that Doe described lasting hours. Doe described the layout of Buckles’ bedroom and various items in his room.
Law enforcement obtained Facebook messages between Jane Doe 2 and Buckles. Doe 2 was over the age of 12, but under the age of 16. Doe 2 was subsequently interviewed and described that in January 2024 she was using meth with Buckles, and he shot her up with meth. Buckles then sexually assaulted her. Doe 2 drew a sketch of Buckles’ room that described a similar layout to what Doe 1 observed. Federal agents executed a search warrant at Buckles’ house in Poplar. During the search, law enforcement officers observed that many details regarding the layout of Buckles’ bedroom were consistent with both Jane Does’ statements.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice conducted the investigation.
