Jessica L. Old Bear Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on August 10, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JESSICA L. OLD BEAR, a 28-year-old resident of Wyola, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for November 9, 2011. She is currently released on special conditions.

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

During the early morning hours of December 4, 2010, OLD BEAR returned to her brother’s (the victim, M.T.C.) residence in Lodge Grass where she had been temporarily staying. OLD BEAR had been out drinking and was intoxicated. M.T.C. asked her to leave because she was intoxicated. OLD BEAR became belligerent and began arguing with M.T.C. OLD BEAR began cursing at M.T.C. and retrieved an eight-inch butcher knife from a kitchen drawer. OLD BEAR then chased M.T.C. around the residence with the knife and eventually stabbed him several times: twice in the scalp, once on in the side of his abdomen, and once in the lower back.

M.T.C. was taken to the Crow Hospital, and then transferred to St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings because of the severity of his injuries. Because of internal bleeding, a chest tube had to be inserted into M.T.C.’s chest. M.T.C. remained hospitalized for two days. His injuries constituted serious bodily injury.

OLD BEAR was subsequently interviewed and admitted to stabbing M.T.C.

OLD BEAR 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.