FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
CHARLES EARL JACKSON 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 23, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, CHARLES EARL JACKSON, a 35-year-old resident of Harlem, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing is set for January 28, 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 the evening of April 7, 2007, JACKSON and a companion were at JACKSON'S grandfather's residence. At approximately 12:00 a.m. on April 8, 2007, an altercation ensued between JACKSON and his grandfather. At the end of the altercation JACKSON left the residence.
However, JACKSON later returned to the residence, grabbed a baseball bat, and struck his grandfather's head with the bat several times. Testimony by a medical doctor would have shown that the victim was seriously injured as a result of the assault.
When interviewed, JACKSON admitted that he had struck his grandfather with the baseball bat on the night in question.
JACKSON faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 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.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
