Christopher Max Dawes Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on October 20, 2011, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, CHRISTOPHER MAX DAWES, a 33-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for January 26, 2012. He is currently detained.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On April 24, 2011, DAWES assaulted the victim, resulting in a broken jaw. The offense occurred at the Medicine Bear Shelter, which is within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.

On the night of the offense, the victim, DAWES and their two young children were at the Medicine Bear Shelter. DAWES was mad about something the victim’s brother had said earlier in the evening. As the victim tried to leave the room, DAWES threw a bowl of soup at the victim then struck her with an uppercut to the right side of her face.

Eventually, the victim was able to flee the room to the women’s dorm area of the shelter, where she used another person’s phone to call the police. The victim was transported to the hospital, where a physician determined she had a broken jaw. She later had to have surgery, resulting in a plate placed in her face and her jaw being wired shut.

DAWES faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years supervised release.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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