Robbinsville Man Is Sentenced To 12 Years For Sexually Abusing A Minor On Indian Reservation

Asheville -- Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office Western District of North Carolina FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Thursday, June 18, 2020

Joseph Dwayne Jumper, 39, of Robbinsville, N.C., was sentenced today to 144 months in prison for the sexual abuse of a minor in Indian Country, announced Andrew Murray, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina. In addition to the prison term imposed, U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Jumper to serve a lifetime of supervised release, and to register as a sex offender after he is released from prison.

Chief Doug Pheasant, of the Cherokee Indian Police Department, joins U.S. Attorney Murray in making today’s announcement.

According to court documents and today’s sentencing hearing, between July and August 2018, Jumper, who is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, sexually abused a minor female entrusted in his care.  As Jumper previously admitted in court, the defendant sexually abused the victim on multiple occasions.  The sexual abuse took place in Graham County, within the boundaries of the Indian reservation. 

On January 3, 2020, Jumper pleaded guilty to two counts of abusive sexual contact of a child under 12. 

In making today’s announcement, U.S. Attorney Murray thanked the Cherokee Indian Police Department for their investigation of this case.

Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard, of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Asheville, prosecuted the case.