Lodge Grass man admits assault crime in Crow Agency shooting

BILLINGS – A Lodge Grass man accused of shooting and wounding a pedestrian from his vehicle in Crow Agency admitted to an assault crime today, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said.

Fabian Cruz Dawes, 31, appeared for an arraignment and pleaded guilty to an information charging him with assault with a dangerous weapon. Dawes faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan presided. Dawes was detained pending further proceedings. A sentencing date has not yet been set.

In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that on April 7, the victim, identified as John Doe, was walking with another person on Makawasha Avenue, toward the downtown area of Crow Agency, on the Crow Indian Reservation. At the same time, Dawes was parked in a blue vehicle near the Teepee Service, out of view of Doe. As Doe approached a laundromat near the Teepee Service, Dawes drove toward Doe and stopped near the victim. Doe approached the driver’s side door and engaged in a short conversation with Dawes. Dawes then fired a single 9mm bullet at Doe, striking him in the leg, then drove away at a high rate of speed. Doe was treated for injuries at the Indian Health Services. Video evidence and witnesses identified Dawes as the shooter to law enforcement.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs and FBI.

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