Charles Chipps. Photo from Native Sun News

Charles Chipps, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe of South Dakota who has served as a medicine man, died while awaiting trial on sexual abuse charges. He was 67.

Chipps was indicted in July 2013 on seven counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a minor, three counts of abusive sexual contact of a minor, three counts of aggravated Incest and two counts of witness intimidation. Federal prosecutors say he abused several girls, some as young as 5 years old and some of his own daughters and granddaughters.

The charges will be dropped now that Chipps has passed on. “This is not at all an indication of how we view the case,” U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson told The Washington Post. “But we obviously cannot proceed without a defendant.”

Chipps was ill and was suffering from numerous conditions, his attorney said.

Get the Story:
Medicine man Charles Chipps Sr. dies in prison before trial on rape charges (The Washington Post 1/22)

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