Warm Springs Man Pleads Guilty to Involuntary Manslaughter and Illegal Firearm Possession

PORTLAND, Ore.—Harold Blackwolf Jr., 35, of Warm Springs, Oregon, pleaded guilty today to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and one count of possession of a firearm as a convicted felon.

According to court documents, on September 28, 2017, Blackwolf was at a friend’s house on the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. While under the influence of alcohol, Blackwolf left his friend’s house and entered his Dodge Durango, a sport utility vehicle. Blackwolf drove away at a high rate of speed with his headlights off. As he was departing, he struck two adult men who were in the road, killing both. Blackwolf, a convicted felon, was arrested on April 20, 2018 and found to be in possession of a single firearm, a Taurus .38 special revolver.

Involuntary manslaughter is punishable by up to eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release. Possessing a firearm as a felon is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release. Blackwolf will be sentenced on June 11, 2019 before U.S. District Court Judge Anna J. Brown.

The government will seek an order of restitution on behalf of Blackwolf’s victims at sentencing.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the Warm Springs Tribal Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Benjamin Tolkoff, Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Oregon.