Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on June 8, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DEANNA MARIE BLACKMAN, a 24-year-old resident of Browning, appeared for sentencing. BLACKMAN was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 46 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 3 years

BLACKMAN was sentenced in connection with her guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On June 22, 2007, the female victim was at a residence in Browning. BLACKMAN came into the residence and began arguing and fighting with the victim. BLACKMAN grabbed the victim's crutches and hit her in the face and head with a crutch.

The victim was taken to the hospital in Browning and treated for her injuries. The treating physician stated that the victim's injuries constituted "serious bodily injury" under federal law because of: 1) "extreme physical pain," and 2) "protracted and obvious disfigurement."

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

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 Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

 

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