Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls on December 3, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, ERICK THOMAS RED DOG, a 38-year-old resident of Wolf Point, pled guilty to being a felon-in-possession of a firearm. Sentencing is set for March 15, 2010. In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On December 18, 2002, RED DOG was convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon thereby prohibiting him from possession of firearms.

On March 5, 2009, RED DOG possessed and discharged a Stevens .243 rifle outside of Wolf Point. RED DOG took the rifle away from his girlfriend's son while having a dispute with his girlfriend at her residence.

When interviewed, RED DOG admitted that he was in a bad mood and got into an argument with his girlfriend. While he screamed at his girlfriend, her son came into the living room with his rifle. RED DOG admitted to taking the rifle from the son and putting it under his own chin. When RED DOG removed the rifle from his own chin, the rifle accidentally discharged and sent a bullet into the ceiling. RED DOG then threw the rifle to the ground, left the residence, and was arrested shortly thereafter by the Roosevelt County Sheriff's deputies.

RED DOG faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Roosevelt County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.

 

 

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