The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on March 26, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JONSON DEAN RUNNING CRANE, a 23-year-old resident of Browning, appeared for sentencing. RUNNING CRANE was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 30 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

RUNNING CRANE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

On June 15, 2011, RUNNING CRANE, an Indian person, assaulted the victim within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. On the day of the offense, the victim was at another person's home when she heard a knock on the front door. When she answered it, RUNNING CRANE grabbed her by the throat and threw her on the sofa. As she screamed for help, RUNNING CRANE punched her in the face, at which point she blacked out. Others in the house witnessed the assault and tried to stop RUNNING CRANE from assaulting the victim. RUNNING CRANE fled from the house and the victim was transported to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fracture to her left maxillary sinus.

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

 

 

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