FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
DANNY THOMAS FOX 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 November 28, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DANNY THOMAS FOX, a 20-year-old resident of Poplar, pled guilty to arson. Sentencing is set for March 13, 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 28, 2006, shortly before midnight, law enforcement officers responded to the scene of a house fire in Poplar. Police officers observed fresh footprints in the snow leading from the yard of the burning house. The officers followed the footprints which lead to the doorstep of FOX'S home. Officers knocked on FOX'S door and it was answered by FOX'S mother. She told the officers that FOX had recently returned home and that he had made the footprints that were on the doorstep. FOX'S mother then gave the officers consent to enter the home. Inside, they found FOX who was then arrested on suspicion of arson.
On December 29, 2006, FOX was interviewed. He stated that he and his cousin, a juvenile male, were drinking alcohol on the night of the fire. FOX stated that he and the juvenile male were aware that the homeowners were out of town and that their home was unattended. FOX also advised that he knew that the wife was a teacher at the Poplar public school.
FOX stated that he and the juvenile male walked over to the residence and entered without permission. Once inside, they began looking for items to steal. FOX stated that he and the juvenile male stole items from the home, including Halloween candy, papers and pens.
FOX and the juvenile male then left the residence home for a while, but returned later that night. When they returned, FOX and the juvenile male again entered the home without permission. Once inside, FOX lit a candle because he didn't want to turn on the interior lights. After looking around for a short time, FOX began lighting items on fire inside the home. FOX told investigators that he lit books and paper on fire in the living room area of the home. FOX said that he ran from the house once the flames were approximately a foot tall. FOX admitted that he never had permission to enter the home and said "I guess it was wrong" or words to that effect.
FOX faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Hosley prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division and the Fort Peck Department of Law and Justice.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
