Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on July 20, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, WESLEY DEAN WELLS, a 31-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing is set for October 26, 2009. He is currently detained.

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

On November 12, 2007, WELLS and the victim, E.C., were drinking. At approximately 7:00 p.m., WELLS was driving and E.C. was a passenger in the car. As they approached an intersection near Browning, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, WELLS failed to make the turn necessary to stay on the road, careened across the highway, drove through a ditch and a plank fence, and hit a tree. E.C. was severely injured in the wreck. As a result of the injuries sustained in the wreck, E.C. is paralyzed. At or near the time of the wreck, WELLS' BAC was 0.25gm/100ml.

E.C. was flown to the hospital in Kalispell. The treating physician indicated that, in his opinion, E.C.'s injuries constitute serious bodily injury because of the substantial risk of death, extreme physical pain, and protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.

WELLS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

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

 

 

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