FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 17, 2008
STEPHEN PAT RYAN CAPLETT 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 Billings, on July 16, 2008, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, STEPHEN PAT RYAN CAPLETT, a 22-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared for sentencing. CAPLETT was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 36 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
CAPLETT was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault on a federal officer.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On the evening of October 25, 2007, CAPLETT was an inmate at the Crow Detention Center. He informed an officer that the women's area of the detention center needed toilet paper. This was a ruse to get the officer to open the secure door. CAPLETT was standing near the door when the officer opened the secure door. As the officer attempted to close and lock the door, CAPLETT pushed him, which caused the officer to fall and strike his shoulder on the floor. CAPLETT and another inmate escaped through the open door.
The officer was transported by ambulance to the Crow Indian Health Service Clinic where he was examined and treated for pain to his right shoulder.
On October 30, 2007, CAPLETT was interviewed and admitted that he had planned his escape from the Crow Detention Center. He further admitted that it was his intent to lure the officer to the secure door and to have him open the door. CAPLETT also admitted that he grabbed the door and pushed the officer out of the way and that he heard the officer hit the floor or a wall "pretty hard."
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that CAPLETT will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, CAPLETT 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 Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
