Roy Fighting Bear, Jr. Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 1, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, ROY FIGHTING BEAR, JR., a 43-year-old resident of Lame Deer, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for December 1, 2010. He is currently detained.

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

On April 14, 2010, FIGHTING BEAR and his common-law wife were drinking alcohol in Lame Deer, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation. FIGHTING BEAR then beat his wife and left her covered in blood lying behind a shed. She walked to a friend's house and was taken to Indian Health Services, where law enforcement photographed her injuries and questioned her.

FIGHTING BEAR had repeatedly struck and kicked the victim about the face and head causing several facial lacerations and a neck injury. The victim suffered a deep laceration on her left forehead, causing her left eye to swell shut, and a laceration to her right eyebrow. FIGHTING BEAR also broke the victim's nose.

When FIGHTING BEAR was questioned, he did not directly admit that he beat his common-law wife, but he made indirect admissions that would have proven that he beat her and caused her injuries.

FIGHTING BEAR faces possible penalties of a 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and at least three years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.