Irving Spotted Eagle, Jr. Pleads Guilty In U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in

Great Falls, on June 10, 2013, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dana L. Christensen, IRVING SPOTTED EAGLE, JR., a 27-year-old resident of Billings and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Indians, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for September 26, 2013. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On November 12, 2011, SPOTTED EAGLE was so angry that S.T. would not return his amorous advances that he pinned her against a wall in his house and repeatedly punched her until his knuckles started to bleed. As she tried to flee the house, SPOTTED EAGLE grabbed S.T. by the hair and continued assaulting her. He did not stop until a neighbor began yelling at him to stop. S.T. was transported to the hospital, where she was treated for a concussion, nasal bone fracture, and blunt force trauma to her face.

The assault occurred within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

SPOTTED EAGLE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Blackfeet Law Enforcement.