Informational: Federal Court Arraignment

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on June 20, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:

DONALD WILLIAM FORREST, a 51-year-old resident of Butte, appeared on a charge of possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of this charge, FORREST faces possible penalties of a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, a $10,000,000 fine, and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan R. Whittaker is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Division of Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.