Billings woman arraigned on murder and gun charges on the Crow Indian Reservation

BILLINGS - A Billings woman accused of killing an individual on the Crow Indian Reservation appeared today for arraignment, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Dameka Rose American Horse, 26, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging her with one count of second-degree murder and one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. If convicted of the most serious crime charged in the indictment, American Horse faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Cavan presided. American Horse was detained pending further proceedings.

Count 1 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant unlawfully and with malice aforethought, that is deliberately and intentionally, killed John Doe, and aided and abetted the same.

Count 2 of the indictment alleges that on or about November 22, 2024, near Pryor, the defendant knowingly possessed a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence that may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, namely second-degree murder, as charged in count 1 of the indictment.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kelsey Hendricks is prosecuting the case. The FBI and BIA conducted the investigation.

The charges in the indictment are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

PACER case reference. 25-135.

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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