Informational: Federal Court arraignments

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty:

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on Nov. 12 was:

Reuben Charles Blackwolf, 44, of Box Elder, on charges of second-degree murder and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. If convicted of the most serious crime, Blackwolf faces a maximum life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Blackwolf was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-120.

Antoine Robert Threefingers, 36, of Lame Deer, on charges of assault on a federal officer, assault with a deadly weapon, possession of a firearm in a violent crime, possession with intent to distribute meth and prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Threefingers faces a minimum mandatory 10 years to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. Threefingers was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI and Bureau of Indian Affairs investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-131.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on Nov. 10 was:

Chase Zachary Taylor Estes, 22, of Helena, on charges of false statement during a firearms transaction and receipt of a firearm while under indictment. If convicted of the most serious crime, Estes faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Estes was released pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case. PACER case reference. 20-12.

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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