Lame Deer Man Sentenced To Twelve Years In Triple Stabbing

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, Montana, on June 6, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, ROBET LEWIS BURSHIA, of Lame Deer, was sentenced to a term of 12 years imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a special assessment of $400.

Following trial in Great Falls, a jury convicted BURHSIA on all three counts charged in the indictment: three counts assault with a dangerous weapon and one count assault resulting in serious bodily injury. BURSHIA was charged after stabbing three women at a Fort Peck residence. The group was eating dinner out in the kitchen area, when BURSHIA suddenly pulled a knife out of his hoodie pocket and stabbed one of the women in the abdomen, claiming the group had taken his "jug" and methamphetamine. When the woman ran away, Burshia chased her. Another woman threw herself in front of the first victim and was stabbed by Burshia in the arm. When the two women ran to hide in the garage, BURSHIA went to another room where he stabbed a third woman, who was sleeping with her young children. Burshia then fled the residence, screaming that he should have killed them.

The Court sentenced Devereaux to 12 years of imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the truth in sentencing guidelines mandate that Burshia will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, Burshia does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior. However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

This investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice.