Creston Kindness Sentenced In U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on September 25, 2013, before Chief U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen, CRESTON KINDNESS, a 30-year-old resident of Fort Hall, Idaho, and an enrolled member of a federally-recognized tribe, was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 63 months

Special Assessment: $100

Forfeiture: firearm

Supervised Release: 3 years

KINDNESS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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:

KINDNESS became agitated when the victim did not tell him where his girlfriend was so he shot the victim in the leg with a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun. The handgun was found in the bathroom, where KINDNESS had been when he was apprehended by tribal law enforcement.

The bullet went through the victim's leg and she was hospitalized for two nights. The bullet, that was retrieved at the crime scene, had mushroomed.

The crime occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation.

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