Joseph Michael Sure Chief Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on July 26, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JOSEPH MICHAEL SURE CHIEF, a 37-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing has been set for November 17, 2011.

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:

In the early morning of April 3, 2010, J.W.’s then-boyfriend, SURE CHIEF, came to her home in Browning from his place of employment. He was intoxicated and made sexual advances toward J.W., which she refused. J.W. explained to SURE CHIEF that she was upset because he did not show up earlier that evening to spend time with J.W. and her friends. SURE CHIEF became angry and threw an object which struck and broke a fan. J.W. told him he needed to leave. SURE CHIEF initially left, but returned and asked to get his clothes. She allowed him in and went to the back room. He followed her and once inside the bedroom, he began to choke her. SURE CHIEF detained her for the next three hours against her will. At several points, he held a knife to her throat. J.W. tried to contact friends, but SURE CHIEF would take the phone from her. At one point, when J.W. tried to escape, SURE CHIEF placed J.W. in a “sleeper hold” until she lost consciousness. When she regained consciousness, J.W. observed SURE CHIEF trying to hurt himself with the knife. He was bleeding from the self-inflicted cuts. J.W. then realized that while unconscious, she had lost control of her bowels and her clothing was soiled. J.W. became sick and started to vomit. SURE CHIEF allowed her to go to the bathroom to rinse her mouth out.

Ultimately, J.W. was able to go outside while accompanied by SURE CHIEF and they sat on a porch swing in the front yard. It was just becoming light out when a friend of J.W.’s drove by and noticed J.W.’s disheveled state and blood on SURE CHIEF’s clothing. The friend stopped an asked if they were okay. J.W. said she was okay but was able to shake her head to indicate she wasn’t. A short time after the friend left, J.W. was able to use her cell phone while she took her dog to use the bathroom. By this time, J.W. received a text from another friend, who asked if she was okay. J.W. texted back: “Help.” That friend then sent a text message asking if J.W. needed her to come now. J.W. hit resend, at which point SURE CHIEF saw her with the phone and said he should go.

The two friends came over just after SURE CHIEF left and tried to convince J.W. to call the police. J.W. was worried SURE CHIEF would retaliate. The second friend recalled being shocked to see J.W. “half naked” with scratches on her face and neck. The first friend recalled the same, adding that J.W. was shaking and had difficulty moving. J.W. explained that SURE CHIEF held her against her will and assaulted her for several hours. The first friend said J.W. appeared to have been up all night because she still had makeup on. After going inside with J.W., the two saw blood, feces and broken glass in the bedroom, as well as the knife.

J.W. was taken to another friend’s home in Browning. Once there, the police were called and took a statement from J.W. The second friend provided photographs of the injuries due to their location, and indicated that J.W.’s underwear were torn and that J.W. had a big gash on her left buttock. After the interview, J.W. went to the Blackfeet Community Hospital. The physician who treated J.W. after the assault provided documentation that her injuries constituted serious bodily injury. Since the incident, J.W. has had difficulty moving her neck and has experienced numbness in her arms. J.W. suffered intense emotional distress as a result of the events of that night.

SURECHIEF 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.

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