Browning man charged with first degree murder, sexual abuse in death of woman on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS — A Browning man suspected in the death of a woman on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation appeared on July 18 on murder and sexual abuse charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Paul Andrew Vielle, 58, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging him with first degree felony murder, second degree murder and aggravated sexual abuse. Vielle faces a mandatory term of life imprisonment and a $250,000 fine if convicted of first degree felony murder.

U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston presided. Vielle was detained pending further proceedings.

The indictment alleges that on April 22, near Cut Bank John Coulee, in the Meriwether area on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Vielle killed the victim, identified as Jane Doe, by cold exposure and that he engaged in a sexual act by force against Jane Doe.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley is prosecuting the case. The Bureau of Indian Affairs, FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Glacier County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Highway Patrol conducted the investigation.

An indictment is merely an accusation, and a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

PACER case reference. 23-67.

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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