Lame Deer woman admits strangling victim

BILLINGS — A Lame Deer woman on Oct. 14 admitted to strangling another woman in 2021 on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said today.

Shaydel Alissa Spang, 25, pleaded guilty to strangulation. Spang faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for Feb. 15, 2023. Spang was released pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that Spang and the victim, identified as Jane Doe, had lived together. On Oct. 22, 2021, Doe was driving in Lame Deer, saw Spang walking and offered to give Spang a ride. Spang got in the car, but when Spang asked to be taken to a certain location, Doe refused. Spang began assaulting Doe and strangled her. Spang eventually let go. Doe drove them to the police station because she wanted to get a restraining order against Spang. Spang told a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer that Doe needed to learn to respect and listen to her.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

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