FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, November 08, 2007
MARK ANDREW CHRISTENSEN 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 Billings on November 9, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, MARK ANDREW CHRISTENSEN, a 36-year-old resident of Great Falls, pled guilty to failure to appear for trial. Sentencing is set for February 14, 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:
CHRISTENSEN had been charged with coercion and enticement (attempt) in CR 06-85-BLG-RFC and had been given notice of the jury trial set for April 30, 2007, in Billings.
On the morning of trial, the court personnel, jury pool, prosecution and defense attorneys were present, but CHRISTENSEN failed to appear as ordered for trial and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
Investigation revealed that CHRISTENSEN had fled his home in Great Falls several days prior to the trial, withdrawing money from his accounts to finance his flight, and leaving notes for his employer and his wife. CHRISTENSEN'S notes explained that he fled to avoid conviction in federal court.
Law enforcement officers spent much time trying to track CHRISTENSEN'S whereabouts, and he was finally arrested in on July 16, 2007, in Vadar, Washington, while driving a vehicle with a recently expired registration.
CHRISTENSEN faces possible penalties of a maximum of 10 years imprisonment consecutive to any sentence of imprisonment for the underlying offense, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervision.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Billings Police Department and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
