The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on June 22, 2011, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, GILBERT DARWIN LEFT HAND, a 27-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared for sentencing. LEFT HAND was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 41 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

LEFT HAND was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to domestic assault.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori H. Suek and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Diane Cabrera, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 3, 2010, LEFT HAND and his common-law wife, I. R., were drinking alcohol when they began to fight. LEFT HAND struck I. R. repeatedly, causing multiple bruises and abrasions all over her body.

LEFT HAND has twice been convicted of assaulting I. R. - once in 2006 and once in 2008. The current assault occurred at the home of the victim in Pryor.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LEFT HAND will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LEFT HAND 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

 

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