A federal jury in Durango has convicted Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 59, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, on 15 counts of sexual abuse and abusive sexual contact in Indian Country. The charges relate to assaults against five victims, including a child.
According to evidence presented at trial, Wall portrayed himself as a traditional Native American healer or “medicine man.” He was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in 2020 and previously served on the Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 school board. Over at least twelve years, Wall sexually exploited multiple women on the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation by convincing them his actions were part of spiritual healing ceremonies. During these ceremonies, he isolated victims and engaged in sexual contact for his own gratification. Prosecutors said Wall told several victims that if they reported his conduct, their healing would not work.
During the trial, five women testified about being abused by Wall in Towaoc, Colorado. The jury found him guilty on all related charges. A sixth woman also testified under rules allowing evidence of other alleged sexual assaults by Wall in Alamosa and Lone Tree during 2020 and 2021.
Sentencing has not yet been scheduled. In addition to this federal case, Wall faces two separate state-level allegations of sexual assault in Colorado. Authorities noted that those charges remain allegations until proven otherwise.
The FBI’s Durango office led the investigation with support from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc. Assistant United States Attorneys R. Josh Player and Jeffrey K. Graves prosecuted the case before United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher.
Anyone with information about other possible victims is encouraged to contact the FBI Denver office at (303) 629-7171.
