TRIBAL JUSTICE NEWS - March 2, 2012

VIOLENT CRIME PROSECUTION

Northern Arapaho Man Sentenced for Arson and Bruglary (U.S. Attorney for the District of Wyoming)

U.S. Attorney Christopher A. Crofts announced that on Feb. 29, 2012, Lamar Duran, 24, of the Northern Arapaho Tribe from the Wind River Indian Reservation, was sentenced for his role in the September 2011, arson and burglary of the Arapahoe Baptist Church. Duran was sentenced to 53 months in prison, five years of supervised release, $200 in court costs and $223,818.14 in restitution.

Pine Ridge, S.D., Man Charged With Killing a Man with a Baseball Bat (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Antoine Robert Bissonette, Jr., 31, of Pine Ridge was indicted on Feb. 22, 2012, for second degree murder and voluntary manslaughter. The indictment stems from an incident that occurred on Feb. 12, 2012, where Bissonette allegedly killed another man at Pine Ridge using a baseball bat. Bisonnete entered a plea of "not guilty" on Feb. 24, 2012. If proven guilty, Bissonette faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Fergus Falls, Minn., Man Indicted for Sexually Assaulting a Woman (U.S Attorney for the District of Minnesota)

A federal indictment recently unsealed charges Kevin John Ehrich, 31, of Fergus Falls, Minn., with the sexual assault of a Red Lake woman. The indictment, originally filed on Feb. 22, 2012, alleges that Ehrich committed one count of aggravated sexual abuse on March 28, 2010. The indictment was unsealed following Ehrich's initial appearance in federal court. Ehrich was arraigned on March 1, 2012. If convicted, Ehrich faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison.

Montana Man Pleads Guilty to Domestic Abuse by a Habitual Offender (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

The U.S. Attorney's office announced that, on March 1, 2012, Vincent Matthew Fortin, 23, of Hays, Mont., pleaded guilty to domestic abuse by a habitual offender. The plea stems from a physical confrontation that took place on July 31, 2011, between Fortin and the victim, a member of Fort Belknap Tribe. Sentencing has been set for June 21, 2012. Fortin faces possible penalties of five years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Fortin has had three prior convictions for domestic abuse.

Rosebud, S.D. Man Convicted of Aggravated Sexual Abuse of a Child and Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Gilbert Oliver Crow Eagle Jr., 58, of Rosebud, S.D., was convicted by a federal jury in Pierre, S.D., of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and two counts of abusive sexual contact with a child. The convictions involve sexual assaults against two victims from 1991 to 1999. A sentencing date was set for May 14, 2012, and Crow Eagle faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Rosebud, S.D., Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting, Resisting or Impeding a Federal Officer (U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota)

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Joel Emery Marshall Jr, 46, of Rosebud, S.D., pleaded guilty to assaulting, resisting, or impeding a federal officer on March 2, 2012. U.S. District Judge Roberto A. Lange presided. The charge involves an assault Marshall committed against a federal officer on Oct. 25, 2011. A sentencing date was set for May 22, 2012, and Marshall faces a maximum penalty of 8 years in prison, $250,000 fine or a combination of the two.

Montana Man Found Guilty of Aggravated Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana)

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Montana announced that Eugene Thomas White Quills, Jr., 24, a resident of Browning, MT and an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe, was found guilty of aggravated sexual abuse on Feb. 29, 2012. U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon presided over the trial. The incident occurred when White Quills forcibly sexually abused the victim in her Blackfeet Reservation home after she refused his advances. Sentencing will occur on June 21, 2012, and White Quills faces possible penalties of life in prison, $250,000 fine and five year to life of supervised release.

Cibeque, Ariz., Man Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison for Child Sexual Abuse (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Arizona announced that Joseph Cruz Nashio, 23, of Cibeque, Ariz., was sentenced to 20 years in prison followed by a lifetime of supervised release on Feb. 29, 2012. Visiting U.S. District Judge John Jarvey issued the sentence. Nashio previously pleaded guilty to abusive sexual contact with a minor on Aug. 9, 2011. Nashio admitted to sexually abusing the 11-year-old victim between August and December 2010.

Gila River Teen Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for Second Degree Murder and Robbery (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

Johnny Lopez, 17, of Laveen, Ariz., was sentenced on Feb. 28, 2012, by U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver to a combined 30 years in prison. Lopez had previously pleaded guilty, in two separate cases, to robbery and use of a firearm during a crime of violence, and second degree murder, respectively. On Feb. 20, 2010, Lopez held a man at gunpoint while he and his accomplices stole the man's vehicle, within the confines of the Gila River Indian Reservation. On July 22, 2010, Lopez, while carrying a rifle, entered a home neighboring his mother's house, within the confines of the Gila River Indian Reservation. After a brief conversation with two occupants of the home, Lopez opened fire and shot the two men, a father and his son, several times. Both victims died as a result of their injuries.

Honduran Man Taken Into Custody on Federal Warrant for Aggravated Sexual Abuse on the Gila River Indian Nation (U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona)

Hernan Ramirez-Orteja, 37, of Honduras, was arrested on Feb. 25, 2012, in Casa Grande, Ariz. Ramirez-Orteja was later turned over to federal officials on a federal warrant that stemmed from a two count indictment handed down on June 29, 2011. The indictment charges Ramirez-Orteja with one count of aggravated sexual abuse by use of force or threats and one count of aggravated sexual abuse of a person under the age of 12. Ramirez-Orteja will remain in custody pending trial, which is scheduled to begin before District Judge Cindy K. Jorgenson on April 24, 2012.