Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on December 14, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individual was arraigned:

RICHARD EUGENE LONE BEAR, a 39-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared on a charge of abusive sexual contact. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, LONE BEAR faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

The defendant pled not guilty to the charge.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and any person named as a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.

 

 

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