Assault On A Federal Officer Draws Prison Time For Crow Agency Man

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on March 27, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Susan Watters, CHARLES JOSEPH WALKS was sentenced to a term of 51 months imprisonment, 3 years of supervised release and $100 special assessment.

Walks was sentenced in connection with his December 2013 guilty plea to assault on a federal officer. In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Suek, the government stated that on August 25, 2012, the defendant had been drinking alcohol and drove to a home in Lodge Grass to see an individual that had filed a complaint with the local police department against the defendant four days earlier.

When the defendant arrived at the residence, the defendant was told to leave and the police were called. The victim, a Bureau of Indian Affairs police officer, responded with lights and sirens activated. Almost immediately upon arriving at the scene, the victim was attacked by the defendant and, during the assault, the victim's knee was twisted under his body. The victim suffered a torn meniscus, a torn anterior cruciate ligament, and the victim had to undergo surgery to repair the damage. He was put on seven months of light duty.

On April 4, 2013, the defendant was interviewed. He admitted that something happened with the officer but that he could not provide any specific details because of his alcohol consumption and claimed that he blacked out and woke up in jail.