FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, April 24, 2008
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENTS
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 23, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:
CLIFFORD W. EAGLE, a 49-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on a charge of failure to register as a sexual offender. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, EAGLE faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
JONATHAN ANDREW MARTELL, age 31, appeared on a charge of second degree murder. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, MARTELL faces possible penalties of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Richard A. Hosley is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division.
The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
