Brandon man pleads guilty of sexual contact by a registered sex offender
Editor's note: If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please reach out to either the Compass Center (605) 339-0116, the Children’s Home Shelter for Family Safety (formerly Children's Inn) (605) 338-4880 or the Sioux Falls Police Department (605) 367-7212. Sexual assault exams are available at hospitals in Sioux Falls as well as The Link downtown.
Andrew Steven White Eyes, 35, of Brandon, pleaded guilty to sexual contact by a registered sex offender during a change of plea hearing as of last week, according to court records.
In August of last year, a warrant of $20,025 cash was issued for White Eyes’ arrest after he was accused of posing as a Lyft driver and then kidnapping and sexually assaulting a Sioux Falls woman. His initial charges of second degree kidnapping and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon tied to the case have since been dropped.
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According to the affidavit, the assault was reported on Aug. 22 to Lincoln County Communications.
The victim requested a Lyft ride to her friend’s house at about 3 a.m. Aug. 20 in Harrisburg. White Eyes arrived at the victim’s home in Sioux Falls to take her to her destination.
White Eyes then allegedly encouraged the victim to sit in the front passenger seat, noting there were various items in the back seat. The affidavit said White Eyes proceeded to tell the victim how pretty she was and that he wanted to make her his “housewife.” The victim asked him to stop making the comments.
White Eyes then placed his hand on the victim’s leg, which the victim then took his hand and placed it on his side of the vehicle.
The affidavit then states that White Eyes continued to make sexual comments and made more attempts to rub her leg.
The victim shared her location on her phone. She then called her friend and left her phone on the seat for him to overhear what was said.
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By then, White Eyes had driven to a remote location in Harrisburg, where he sexually assaulted her, according to the affidavit. The victim pushed him away and asked him to stop.
When White Eyes continued his attempt to touch her, the victim made him aware that someone else was listening from her phone. The victim told her friend to “meet her outside and bring his parents.”
The affidavit then states White Eyes pulled a gun out, held it to the victim’s ribs and threatened to kill anyone waiting for them when they arrived. White Eyes also claimed that he was wanted in California and Minnesota for murder.
Approximately 2 to 3 minutes later, White Eyes put the gun away and began to cry, apologizing and kissing her on the forehead, according to the affidavit.
White Eyes ultimately drove the victim to her destination and let her exit the vehicle. He was arrested on Aug. 24 and is currently awaiting a new trial date pending a full pre-sentence investigation report and psychosexual evaluation.
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Conditions of White Eyes' bond and release include no contact with the victim, good behavior, staying in contact with lawyer, making all court appearances, no weapons, compliance with the South Dakota sex offender registry and no driving any rideshare services including Lyft, Uber, taxi, etc.
The State of South Dakota Sex Offender Registration includes White Eyes’ name, after he was convicted of attempting sexual contact with a 12-year-old girl in 2010.
Court documents also reveal that one of White Eye’s multiple cases, which also includes citations of stalking, simple assault, assault against a law enforcement official and two protection orders, has been reopened for driving with a suspended license in September 2021.
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Brandon man pleads guilty to sexual contact by a registered sex offender
