FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 08, 2008
BRIAN DEAN BELL SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on May 8, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, BRIAN DEAN BELL, a 25-year-old resident of Lodgepole, appeared for sentencing. BELL was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 37 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
BELL was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault resulting in serious bodily injury.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On May 19, 2007, the victim was spending the night at a friend's residence.
At various points during the evening of May 19th and the morning of May 20, 2007, BELL went to the residence. Around 1:00 a.m on May 20, 2007, the victim asked BELL, who was intoxicated, to leave the residence.
As BELL left the residence, he kicked a dog. The victim came to the defense of the dog and tried to escort BELL from the residence. A scuffle ensued, during which the victim fell or was knocked to the ground. BELL then beat and kicked the victim.
As a result of the assault, the victim suffered several facial injuries, including an upper lip laceration, a fractured maxillary bone, and retinal tear.
The victim subsequently received medical treatment from an ophthalmologist and a medical doctor, both of whom were qualified to treat facial injuries. Both doctors concluded that the victim's facial injuries constituted serious bodily injury, as that term is defined by federal law.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BELL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BELL does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. Thaggard prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
