[Adopted 7-25-2002 by Ord. No. 02-25]
A. 
The Tribal Legislature has determined that, on numerous occasions and in various locations throughout tribal operations, appropriation by Indian persons of money and other things of value belonging to the Tribe or other persons has occurred which has raised the issue in some quarters as to whether such happenings rise to the level of criminal activity, and the Tribal Legislature has determined that appropriation with intent to deprive money or other things of value from the Tribe or another person has always been a crime and this article is a reaffirmation of that fact.
B. 
Theft, embezzlement, fraud and forgery are crimes as defined herein and shall be punished accordingly to pursue the ends of justice.
For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meaning set forth below:
ADULT
An Indian person who has achieved the age of 17 years when the crime is committed.
CRIME
Conduct by an Indian person which is prohibited by tribal law and punishable by fine, community service, or imprisonment or all three. Conduct punishable by forfeiture only is not a crime.
INDIAN
Any person of Indian descent who is a member of any recognized tribe under federal jurisdiction or a person who is recognized by the Menominee Indian Community as an Indian.
JUDGE
Any appointed Judge of the Tribal Court, including the Chief Justice, Supreme Court Justices, and Lower Court Judges.
PERSON
An individual person(s) or the Menominee Tribe.
PROPERTY
All forms of tangible property, whether real or personal, without limitation, and which may belong to the Tribe or an individual. For purposes of this article "property" shall include money and personal property.
TRIBAL COURT
The Court established by the Tribal Legislature under the Menominee Constitution, Article V.
TRIBAL LEGISLATURE
The official governing body of the Menominee Tribe.
Theft is a crime defined as any Indian who shall take the property of another person, with intent to steal, and that Indian shall be charged with theft and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to loss of liberty for a period not to exceed 12 months, community service, and repayment of the total value of such stolen property to the Tribe or the person within a period of 12 months.
Embezzlement is a crime defined as any Indian who shall, having lawful custody of property not his own but belonging to the Tribe or another person, appropriate the same for his own use, with intent to deprive the owner thereof, and that Indian shall be charged with embezzlement and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to loss of liberty for a period not to exceed 12 months and community service and shall be required to make reparation/restitution of the property to the owner.
Fraud is a crime defined as any Indian who shall, by willful misrepresentation or deceit or by false interpretation, obtain any money or other property belonging to the Tribe or another person, and that Indian shall be charged with fraud and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to loss of liberty for a period not to exceed 12 months and community service and shall be required to make reparation to the owner of the property.
Forgery is a crime defined as any Indian who shall, with intent to defraud, falsely sign, execute or alter any written instrument, and that Indian shall be charged with forgery and, upon conviction, shall be sentenced to loss of liberty for a period not to exceed 12 months and community service and shall be required to make reparation to the owner for such falsely obtained property.
Upon conviction of any of the above-listed crimes, the Tribal Court has discretion to sentence a person to loss of liberty up to 12 months, in addition to community service; provided, however, that the Tribal Court shall require repayment, replacement, or reparation from the convicted person for any property obtained or involved in violation of this article.
A. 
The Tribal Legislature and all employees of tribal operations wherever situated shall have the duty and responsibility to report in a timely manner any verifiable suspicion of criminal activity engaged in by any Indian person to the Tribal Chairperson, tribal police or the Tribal Prosecutor as circumstances may indicate. The Tribal Legislature has no authority to waive reporting of suspected criminal activity to the appropriate authorities.
B. 
"Verifiable suspicion" means information based on substantive material, including but not limited to altered receipts, missing money or articles, and variations from usual habits, such as gambling or spending.
C. 
The Tribe and its agencies will not tolerate reporting under this article by anyone of frivolous, unsupported, unsubstantiated charges against any other person, and any such attempts will be considered to be malicious mischief and will be dealt with to the full extent of tribal law.
D. 
Upon conviction, a full report shall be carried in the following Menominee Nation News, including names, dates, and a report of the sentencing. This provision is for the purpose of deterrence and a warning that criminal misuse of property will not be tolerated by the Tribe.