Karsen Wayne Bushman Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on November 30, 2010, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, KARSEN WAYNE BUSHMAN, a 24-year-old resident of Wolf Point, appeared for sentencing. BUSHMAN was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 30 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Restitution: $328,437.11
- Supervised Release: 3 years
BUSHMAN was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to aiding and abetting malicious mischief.
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 December 9, 2006, BUSHMAN and another individual entered the Nemont Water Conditioning building in Wolf Point, within the exterior boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. BUSHMAN and the other individual gained access to the building by a key obtained by BUSHMAN through his employment with the Nemont Water Company. BUSHMAN and the other individual stole approximately $30 in money, wrecked the office, and one of the two set the building on fire from the inside.
Both individuals were interviewed and initially denied involvement in the incident. The other individual later confessed to being involved. That individual stated that BUSHMAN asked him if he wanted to "make a money scam." The other individual agreed, so he and BUSHMAN went to the Nemont Water Conditioning building, where BUSHMAN was employed at the time. BUSHMAN used a key he obtained from his employment to enter the building. The two then took approximately $30 in quarters and a safe, and then stacked files and other things in a pile, and one of the two poured a flammable liquid on the pile of stuff and set it on fire. The Nemont Water Building was completely destroyed by the fire.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BUSHMAN will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BUSHMAN does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
