Billings man appears on charge of carjacking resulting in death

BILLINGS – A Billings man accused of killing Keith Breckenridge while stealing his truck appeared for an arraignment today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

The defendant, Brian Dale Contreraz, 31, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with one count of carjacking resulting in death. If convicted, Contreraz could be imprisoned for life or sentenced to death. He also could be fined up to $250,000 and placed on supervised release for up to three years.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Contreraz was detained pending further proceedings.

The indictment alleges that on or about May 16, 2025, in Billings, Contreraz took a motor vehicle that had been transported, shipped, and received in interstate commerce from Keith Breckenridge by force, violence, and intimidation, with the intent to cause death and serious bodily harm, resulting in the death of Breckenridge.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Colin Rubich and Zeno Baucus are prosecuting the case. The FBI, Billings Police Department, and BIA conducted the investigation.

The charging document is merely as accusation and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

PACER case reference. CR 26-46-BLG-SPW.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.

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