Louie Donald Iron Bear Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on June 11, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, LOUIE DONALD IRON BEAR, a 33-year-old resident of Poplar, pled guilty to failure to register as a sexual offender. Sentencing is set for October 5, 2009. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In February of 2009, the U.S. Marshal's Service received information from the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office that IRON BEAR, a convicted sexual offender, was not currently properly registered and living in Poplar.
Court records reflect that in 2000, IRON BEAR was convicted of felony sexual abuse of a minor in federal district court in Montana. IRON BEAR was sentenced to 30 months prison to be followed by supervised release. Based on his conviction, IRON BEAR was required to register as a sexual offender. IRON BEAR registered at an address in Poplar when he last registered at the end of October, 2008.
When a check of that residence was done in February 2009, IRON BEAR was not living there. The current resident reported that IRON BEAR had moved out three months earlier and moved to a new address to live with his girlfriend. IRON BEAR'S girlfriend confirmed that he was living with her at a new address. IRON BEAR did not update his registration as required by law.
The Montana Sexual and Violent Offender Registry confirmed that IRON BEAR was out of compliance with Montana's Sexual Offender Registry requirements for failing to update his registration in Montana.
IRON BEAR faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office and the U.S. Marshals Service.
A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
