FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 24, 2008
DAVID PAUL BEARCHILD 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 July 24, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, DAVID PAUL BEARCHILD, a 23-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Sentencing is set for October 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:
DAVID PAUL BEARCHILD is an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe of Indians. The crime occurred on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
On or about April 26, 2008, BEARCHILD drove to Cut Bank to purchase beer. During the course of the afternoon he drank seven to nine beers and a couple of shots of Crown Royal whiskey.
BEARCHILD drove to another residence, and while there, drank more alcohol for several hours. BEARCHILD then drove a red Ford pick-up truck to his relative's house which is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
BEARCHILD parked the truck in his relatives's driveway and sat in the truck talking to another individual. After a few minutes, BEARCHILD put the truck in reverse and backed out of the driveway. As he back out of the driveway, BEARCHILD ran over the head and body of T.P.R., a two-year-old child. BEARCHILD then saw another individual come out of the house and pick up the 2-year-old child, T.P.R. BEARCHILD saw blood on the child's face and took off running. Moments later BEARCHILD went to the Indian Health Services hospital in Browning to check the status of the child, and was arrested by BIA officers. T.P.R. died as a result of the injures received from being run over by BEARCHILD. At or near the time of the incident, BEARCHILD's blood alcohol-level was 0.21 gm/100 ml, which is above the legal limit.
BEARCHILD faces possible penalties of 8 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney E. Vincent Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
