Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on August 10, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CHARLES JOSEPH WOOD, a 54-year-old resident of Parker Canyon, appeared for sentencing. WOOD was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 12 months, consecutive to another sentence

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 3 years

WOOD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to failure to surrender for service of sentence.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

WOOD was convicted in the U.S. District Court in Great Falls of assault with a dangerous weapon. On May 17, 2004, he was sentenced to 37 months imprisonment. The Court allowed WOOD to self-report to prison.

On June 17, 2004, a probation officer informed WOOD by letter that he was to self-report to the federal prison in Sandstone, Minnesota, on July 14, 2004.

On July 15, 2004, the probation officer learned that WOOD did not self-report. A warrant was issued for WOOD'S arrest on July 16, 2004.

WOOD remained a fugitive until he was arrested on December 19, 2008.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that WOOD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, WOOD does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The investigation was conducted by the Chippewa-Cree Law Enforcement Division.

 

 

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