FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENTS
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on October 16, 2007, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, the following individuals were arraigned:
MICHAEL WAYNE GRAY, age 39, appeared on a charge of providing ammunition to a felon. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, GRAY faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl E. Rostad is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
JOHN FITZGERALD BIG LEGGINS, JR., a 19-year-old resident of Frazier, appeared on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BIG LEGGINS faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Hosley is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are 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.
