FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 28, 2008
LEON RUSSELL RUSSETTE 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 February 27, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, LEON RUSSELL RUSSETTE, a 26-year-old resident of Box Elder, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing is set for June 30, 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 February 11, 2007, the victim was employed and finishing his shift as an officer with the Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services. The officer had responded to a complaint where RUSSETTE was trying to beat up someone. RUSSETTE ran from the officer as he attempted to arrest RUSSETTE. They struggled. RUSSETTE pulled the metal connector between a screen door and the door jam off of a door at a nearby residence as it was only connected to the screen door.
RUSSETTE swung and stabbed the metal object at the officer, striking him at least twice. Another officer observed RUSSETTE drop the metal pipe but did not see RUSSETTE strike or attempt to strike the officer with the metal object. The officer received visible injuries from RUSSETTE'S use of the metal object.
When asked later why he attacked the officer, RUSSETTE replied that he did not want to go to jail, he wanted to get away and the officer was in his way.
RUSSETTE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Rocky Boy's Police Department and 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.
