PIERRE — A Mission man is facing life in federal prison after allegedly sexually abusing a minor through suffocation as well as distributing drugs on the Rosebud Indian Reservation.

Alexander Brave, 29, of Mission, was indicted by a federal grand jury in August of one count each of sexual abuse, assault by strangulation or suffocation and distribution of a controlled substance to a person under 21. In a Sept. 2 arraignment, he pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The indictment alleges that in between June and October 2021, while within Todd County and the bounds of the Rosebud Indian Reservation, Brave engaged in a sexual act with a victim between the ages of 12 and 16 years, and that he assaulted the victim by strangling and suffocating them.

Another section of the indictment alleges that in August 2021, Brave sold methamphetamine to a separate victim before engaging in a sexual act with her while she was incapable of declining participation.

If convicted, Brave could be sentenced to serve the rest of his life in federal prison, as well as ordered to pay fines of up to $250,000. If a shorter sentence were to be handed down, he could spend life on supervised release. Restitution and a special assessment of $100 to the Federal Crime Victims Fund may also be ordered.

Following his arraignment, Brave was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial. A trial date has not been set.