Cody Neil Adams Sentenced in U.S. District Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on October 19, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CODY NEIL ADAMS, a 26-year-old resident of Harlem, appeared for sentencing. ADAMS was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 44 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: five years

ADAMS was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual abuse of a minor.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael T. Wolfe, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In March of 2010, a woman, hereafter referred to as “XX,” approached law enforcement to report alleged sexual abuse of certain minor females perpetrated by ADAMS. XX’s daughter, hereafter referred to as “OO,” was subsequently interviewed by law enforcement.

When interviewed, OO stated that from October 2009 to December 2009, she had lived with her cousin on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. ADAMS, OO’s cousin’s common-law husband, was also living in the cousin’s house at this time. OO stated that SS would often visit the house to spend time with her and other friends and to babysit the cousin’s children. During this time period, OO observed sexual text messages that ADAMS sent to SS’s phone. OO viewed text messages on SS’s phone, sent from ADAMS, saying things such as: “ask me anything about sex;” “I will give you this bottle [of alcohol] if you do something for me.” OO also stated that ADAMS would often give SS a ride home, and it would take them a long time, considering how close together they lived.

When interviewed, SS stated that ADAMS touched her numerous times, over and underneath her clothing, on her breasts and by digitally penetrating her vagina. SS also stated that in approximately April 2009, ADAMS first approached her, asking her if she liked him and discussing sexual topics with her. This behavior progressed to the point where on approximately five separate occasions ADAMS put his hand down SS’s pants and put his finger inside her vagina. They were alone on each occasion, inside ADAMS’ truck, on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. SS later accompanied law enforcement to the locations where ADAMS had parked his car when the sexual acts occurred. SS stated that this conduct often occurred when ADAMS was picking her up or driving her home from the cousin’s house. The approximate time frame of the conduct was from late April 2009, until early February 2010. SS was 15 years old at the time. ADAMS was 25 to 26 years old at the time.

SS also stated that ADAMS exposed his genitalia to her on at least one occasion and ADAMS told SS that he wanted to have sex with her. Also, ADAMS sent to SS, on two occasions, text pictures of his genitalia. She further stated that she was initially reluctant to admit to family members that ADAMS had touched her inappropriately. She was reluctant to tell anyone because ADAMS had threatened her. SS eventually told her mother what had happened and she wrote a letter stating that ADAMS had touched her. Law enforcement obtained a copy of the letter that SS wrote to her mother.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the “truth in sentencing” guidelines mandate that ADAMS will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, ADAMS 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 Fort Belknap Criminal Investigation Division.