Machete assault sends Great Falls man to prison

GREAT FALLS–A Great Falls man who admitted assaulting another man with a machete in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was sentenced today to one year and one day in prison and to two years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Leif Johnson said.

Shem Abram Killsnight, 42, pleaded guilty on Oct. 19, 2020 to assault with a dangerous weapon.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Killsnight was ordered to self report to prison.

In court documents filed in the case, the government alleged that on June 4, 2019, Killsnight went to the residence of the victim, identified as John Doe, on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Killsnight brought a machete, and the victim believed Killsnight was under the influence of methamphetamine. Killsnight swung the machete at the victim and struck him in the hand. The victim sought medical treatment for the wound.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kalah Paisley and Cassady Adams prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.

XXX