Home Salt Lake City Press Releases 2011 Cornelius Little Nest Sentenced in U.S. District Court
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Cornelius Little Nest Sentenced in U.S. District Court

U.S. Attorney’s Office January 26, 2011
  • District of Montana (406) 657-6101

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on January 26, 2011, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, CORNELIUS LITTLE NEST, a 51-year-old resident of Hardin, appeared for sentencing. LITTLE NEST was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 41 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: three years

LITTLE NEST was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

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

On April 16, 2010, a high-speed pursuit by the Montana Highway Patrol started off of the Crow Indian Reservation in Hardin. When the patrol officer tried to stop the car, the driver fled Hardin driving in excess of 90 miles per hour. The car was stopped between Crow Agency and Dunmore. The driver was identified as LITTLE NEST. A second, unidentified adult male fled. Also in the car was the victim.

The officers found the victim to be seriously injured, requiring emergency medical treatment. The investigation revealed that the victim had been beaten by LITTLE NEST over a three-day period of time. She suffered two broken ribs, severe bruising all over her body, including her pubic area, and a large portion of her hair was ripped out.

The victim was interviewed and identified the locations where she was assaulted by LITTLE NEST on the reservation, and how she was assaulted.

The treating physician confirmed that the victim's injuries meet the definition of serious bodily injury.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that LITTLE NEST will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, LITTLE NEST does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.

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

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