Thomas Ray Crossguns Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on June 4, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, THOMAS RAY CROSSGUNS, a 27-year-old resident of Browning and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, appeared for sentencing. CROSSGUNS was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 27 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
CROSSGUNS 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 Ryan Weldon, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
An Federal Bureau of Investigation agent responded to a call from Blackfeet Law Enforcement dispatch in the early morning of March 17, 2011, reporting that a female individual had been assaulted by CROSSGUNS.
The agent went to the Blackfeet Community Hospital to see the victim and then spoke with the treating physician. The physician would have testified that the victim had extensive "systematic" bruising on her body, and bruising/swelling on her face and ear. He also would have testified that the blows to the victim's face resulted in extreme physical pain and protracted and obvious disfigurement. A physical exam had revealed extensive bruising around her eyes, one eye completed filled with blood, lips swollen, bruises on her neck, arms, chest, and back. And, her entire left ear was swollen full of fluid. Both her hands were swollen and bruised.
The victim stated that CROSSGUNS hit her seven or eight times in the face with his fists. CROSSGUNS also hit her in the head, neck, arms, hands and back and threatened to break her arm.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that CROSSGUNS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, CROSSGUNS 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.
