The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on July 10, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, EUGENE DELBERT WELLS, JR., a 32-year-old resident of Browning and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, appeared for sentencing. WELLS was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 37 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

WELLS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to domestic assault by a habitual offender.

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

On October 13, 2011, WELLS and "Jane Doe," with whom he was involved with, were drinking and driving around the reservation.

At approximately 4:30 a.m. on October 14, 2011, WELLS pulled over on a gravel road north of Heart Butte. WELLS beat "Jane Doe" with his fists and attempted to strangle her. The assault occurred within the exterior boundary of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

After getting away from WELLS, "Jane Doe" called 911 and sought medical care. She was treated for her injuries at the Browning Indian Health Services.

WELLS had been previously convicted of three separate domestic violence incidents since 2007.

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