The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 11, 2012, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, DONALD CHARLES RAPOS, a 53-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, appeared for sentencing. RAPOS was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 21 months

Special Assessment: $100

Restitution: $1,000

Supervised Release: 3 years

RAPOS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault with a dangerous weapon.

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 May 26, 2011, the victim, a propane truck driver, inadvertently drove down a road just north of Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, because he was looking for a particular residence to deliver propane. RAPOS claims ownership of this particular road. RAPOS confronted the victim and stated that the victim was trespassing. RAPOS then pulled out a knife and threatened to cut the victim. The victim, who at that point feared immediate bodily harm, called the police. Once the police arrived at the scene, RAPOS left.

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