Donald Charles Rapos Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court
| U.S. Attorney’s Office January 12, 2012 |
The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings on January 11, 2012, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, DONALD CHARLES RAPOS, a 53-year-old resident of Lame Deer and an enrolled member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing has been set for April 11, 2012. He is currently detained.
In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On May 26, 2011, the victim, a propane truck driver, inadvertently drove down a road just north of Lame Deer, on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, because he was looking for a particular residence to deliver propane to. RAPOS claims ownership of this particular road. RAPOS confronted the victim and stated that the victim was trespassing. RAPOS then pulled out a knife and threatened to cut the victim. The victim, who at that point feared immediate bodily harm, called the police. Once the police arrived at the scene, RAPOS left.
RAPOS 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.