Federal judge rules Bureau of Indian Affairs responsible for officer’s assault
February 27, 2025
A Montana federal judge has ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs is liable for the 2015 sexual assault of a Northern Cheyenne woman by former BIA officer Dana Bullcoming. The court ordered the agency to pay $1.6 million in damages, citing its failure to investigate reports of misconduct. Bullcoming, who was convicted in 2018, assaulted the woman while responding to a call. The ruling follows a Ninth Circuit decision that reinstated the case, questioning whether Bullcoming acted within the scope of his employment.
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