FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
JITTAWEE CURLEY BEAR CUB PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
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. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JITTAWEE CURLEY BEAR CUB, a 21-year-old resident of Poplar, pled guilty to second degree murder. Sentencing is set for January 24, 2008. He is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On December 12, 2003, Richard Red Dog vanished from the Fort Peck Indian Reservation and no one has heard from him or seen him since that date.
In February 2004, BEAR CUB was incarcerated in the Cascade County Detention Center on an unrelated criminal charge. BEAR CUB befriended another inmate. While incarcerated, he explained to that inmate, in detail, how he, Jordan Martell, and "J.D.", (a juvenile), met Red Dog on the night of December 12, 2003, in Poplar. BEAR CUB stated they drove Red Dog around the Poplar area and that a fight broke out between BEAR CUB and Red Dog. BEAR CUB stated that he, Martell, and "J.D." acted in concert with one another and ultimately beat, kicked, and stabbed Red Dog to death. BEAR CUB stated that Red Dog's body was thrown into the Missouri River.
In May of 2004, BEAR CUB was interviewed by an FBI agent. BEAR CUB admitted that, on the night in question, he, "J.D.", and Martell beat Red Dog with various implements. BEAR CUB admitted that he stabbed Red Dog with a knife. BEAR CUB admitted that Red Dog's body was thrown in the Missouri River.
Martell was found guilty of first degree murder after a 2-day trial and sentenced to life in prison.
BEAR CUB faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Glasgow.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
