Lyndreth Hemp Wall Sentenced to Life in Prison in Federal Sexual Abuse Case
A former tribal council member was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted on 15 federal sexual abuse counts involving five victims.
2 reports on this incident · first at Aug 18, 2026, 5:50 p.m. ET
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Earlier reports
Aug 18, 2026, 5:50 p.m. ETFirst report
Lyndreth Hemp Wall Sentenced to Life in Prison in Federal Sexual Abuse Case
On August 18, 2026, Lyndreth Hemp Wall, 60, a member of the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, was sentenced to life in prison in the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, according to official records from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. Wall was convicted on 15 counts of sexual abuse in Indian Country and abusive sexual contact in Indian Country involving five victims, including a minor. United States District Judge Gordon P. Gallagher presided over the sentencing. The matter remains developing as separate state proceedings remain open.
According to official records, Wall served as a former school board member in Montezuma-Cortez School District Re-1 and was elected to the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Council in 2020. Official records state that Wall presented himself as a traditional Native American healer, or "medicine man," and used traditional healing rituals over at least twelve years as a pretense to sexually exploit women in Towaoc, Colorado. The FBI Office in Durango, Colorado, investigated the case with assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in Towaoc.
United States Attorney Peter McNeilly stated, "Claiming you are a spiritual healer and then using that position of power to sexually abuse people who come to you for help is an abhorrent crime." FBI Denver Special Agent in Charge Amanda Koldjeski noted that Wall betrayed female tribal members who trusted him for spiritual healing.
Official records note that Wall also faces two separate allegations of sexual assault in Colorado state court. Those pending state charges are allegations, and Wall is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
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Revision history
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 21:52current
First published.
- Version 118 Aug 2026, 21:50current
First published.
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