The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 6, 2011, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, FABIAN CRUZ DAWES, a 21-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared for sentencing. DAWES was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 21 months

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: to be determined

Supervised Release: 3 years

DAWES was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to burglary, arson, and theft.

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

On September 24, 2010, DAWES broke into V.S.'s residence at Crow Agency on the Crow Indian Reservation. DAWES did not have permission or authority to be in the residence. While in the residence, DAWES took various items from the residence (including DVDs, jewelry, clothes, tools and flatscreen televisions). The total value of the items taken by DAWES was approximately $16,000.

When interviewed, DAWES admitted to breaking into the residence and taking various items.

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