A former Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer has admitted to sexually abusing a teenage girl while on duty on the Northern Cheyenne reservation in Montana, federal prosecutors announced Thursday.
Murrell Deela, who was 29 at the time of the assault, pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Prosecutors say Deela was on duty on Aug. 7, 2024, when he apprehended the girl and transported her to an undisclosed location, where he raped her.
The victim reported the assault the following day. FBI analysis supported her account, according to the Department of Justice.
The case took a further criminal turn in the days that followed. Investigators directed Deela to bring his patrol vehicle to the BIA station for evidence collection. He told authorities the vehicle was on fire. Both the vehicle and its onboard video system were found severely burned. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated and determined the fire had been set intentionally.
Deela’s account of his actions on the night of the assault also shifted under scrutiny. He initially told investigators he had driven the girl directly home. When confronted with additional evidence, he acknowledged he had instead taken her to the separate location, according to the Department of Justice.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. The case was prosecuted federally given that the assault occurred on tribal land, where federal jurisdiction applies to major crimes.
By DNU staff