U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Porcupine man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for Arson, First Degree Burglary, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Aiding and Abetting.
Milton James Mesteth, age 27, was indicted by a federal grand jury on December 21, 2010, for Arson, First Degree Burglary, Possession of a Stolen Firearm, and Aiding and Abetting. He appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Veronica L. Duffy on December 30, 2010, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 25 years of imprisonment for Arson and First Degree Burglary and 10 years for Possession of a Stolen Firearm. A $250,000 fine may also be imposed. The charge is merely an accusation, and Mesteth is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
The investigation is being conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety, and the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carolyn G. Olson is prosecuting the case. Mesteth was remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.
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