SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — A retired pastor from Monona has been ordered to forfeit some ancient weaponry after pleading guilty to trafficking in archaeological resources.

In a plea agreement, John M. Sheild, 78, was also fined $10,000 in U.S. District Court after admitting dealing in items he knew had been removed from public and Indian lands.

He is one of at least five people federal prosecutors in South Dakota have charged for similar activities. He is the first to be sentenced.

In separate cases, federal prosecutors accused the five of looting or trading ancient archaeological finds, such as military items, gun flints, lead balls and bullets and brass copper pieces. Sheild has agreed to help the government identify public or tribal entities that can claim the items he forfeited.

Sheild was indicted in South Dakota last December on a federal charge of trafficking in archeological resources, accused of violating an archeology law that protects American Indian artifacts.

Sheild is a South Dakota native and retired pastor for Lake Edge United Church of Christ in Madison.

In the indictment he was charged with trafficking — between Jan. 1, 2004, and October 2008 — in "archeological resources, namely, bullet casings, slugs, buttons, military items, thumb scrapers, projectile points, bone tools, stone tools, beads, a pewter ring, a child’s ring, a British gun flint, ... shell cases, buckles, bone handles and brass copper pieces" that had been excavated or removed from public and Indian lands.

Earlier this year, Sheild wouldn’t comment on his connection with such artifacts, though archived materials list him as a co-host to the annual Stoughton Native American Artifact Show.

— State Journal reporter George Hesselberg contributed to this article.