Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on April 8, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CURTIS DUSTIN OLD CHIEF, a 22-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Sentencing is set for July 23, 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:

On July 1, 2008, OLD CHIEF and four females were riding around Browning. OLD CHIEF was the driver and all five had been drinking. At approximately 3:30 p.m., the car that OLD CHIEF was driving entered a turn going too fast, left the road, and wrecked. One of the passengers died as a result of the injuries she received in the wreck.

OLD CHIEF'S blood-alcohol content shortly after the wreck was 0.11 gm/100ml.

OLD CHIEF faces possible penalties of 8 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Blackfeet Tribal Law Enforcement.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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