The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on August 25, 2010, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, RANDALL LANGDON BLACK EAGLE, a 35-year-old resident of Crow Agency, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for December 1, 2010. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In the early morning hours of December 31, 2009, Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement received a call that there was a domestic violence incident at the home of BLACK EAGLE and the victim. When law enforcement arrived at the residence, the victim was bloody and stated that BLACK EAGLE had assaulted her. Both the victim and BLACK EAGLE had been drinking. The victim was taken to the Indian Health Services emergency room. She suffered serious bodily injury in that she has permanent injury to her eye.

When interviewed, BLACK EAGLE stated that he did not remember what happened because of his drinking. He stated that he remembered waking up and the victim was kicking him, screaming at him, and accusing him of hitting her. He then woke up because the police were in the house. He believed that one of the officers was having an affair with the victim and he told the officer to get out of his house. BLACK EAGLE was also questioned about a rifle in the house.

When interviewed, the victim stated that she was out with BLACK EAGLE and her parents. When they returned home, she and her oldest daughter took the babysitter home. When she returned, BLACK EAGLE accused her of being with her ex-boyfriend and he hit her in front of the kids. He then pulled her off of the bed and kicked her. The children tried to intervene. She told her son to go next door and call the police. She then stated that she kicked back to try and defend herself, which stopped the assault. But, when the police arrived and knocked on the door, BLACK EAGLE held her down on the floor and kicked her in the head before the police entered the house. She told officers that he hit her with a closed fist as well.

BLACK EAGLE 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 Bureau of Indian Affairs and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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

 

 

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