Jonson Dean Running Crane Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office December 20, 2011 |
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on December 19, 2011, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JONSON DEAN RUNNING CRANE, a 23-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for March 26, 2012. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Laura B. Weiss, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On June 15, 2011, RUNNING CRANE, an Indian person, assaulted the victim within the exterior boundaries of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. On the day of the offense, the victim was at another person’s home when she heard a knock on the front door. When she answered it, RUNNING CRANE grabbed her by the throat and threw her on the sofa. As she screamed for help, RUNNING CRANE punched her in the face, at which point she blacked out. Others in the house witnessed the assault and tried to stop RUNNING CRANE from assaulting the victim. RUNNING CRANE fled from the house and the victim was transported to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with a fracture to her left maxillary sinus.
RUNNING CRANE 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.