BISMARCK - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on March 19, 2012, Brandin Decoteau, 23, of Bismarck, N.D., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on charges of burglary and possession of a stolen firearm. Decoteau pleaded guilty to the charges on Dec. 19, 2011.

Judge Hovland sentenced Decoteau to one year and three months in federal prison, to be followed by two years of supervised release. Decoteau was ordered to pay a $200 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.

Co-defendant Frank Patnaude, 23, Belcourt, N.D., pleaded guilty on Jan. 23, 2012, in U.S. District Court to a charge of burglary. Sentencing for Patnaude has been scheduled for April 16, 2012, in U.S. District Court in Bismarck, N.D., at 11:00 a.m.

On April 14, 2010, Patnaude provided his vehicle to Decoteau to aid in the burglary of a home in the Belcourt area. Decoteau entered the home by kicking in the door, and Decoteau took a rifle. Decoteau later sold the rifle to another person, who turned it into law enforcement officials upon learning the rifle was stolen.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Turtle Mountain Agency.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell prosecuted the case.

 

 

 

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