RAYMOND ANTHONY LEGGETT 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 December 28, 2006, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, RAYMOND ANTHONY LEGGETT, a 22-year-old resident of Wolf Point, pled guilty to two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing is set for April 23, 2007. 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 March 3, 2006, LEGGETT and three male friends were drinking at a bar in Wolf Point. At some point, an argument erupted between two of the individuals. All four individuals then went outside the bar. At this point LEGGETT and one of the individuals, hereafter referred to as "B.B.", started to fight. During the fight, LEGGETT stabbed "B.B." with a butterfly knife. One of the other individuals, hereafter referred to as "N.W.", then became involved in the fight when he attempted to pull LEGGETT off of "B.B." and was stabbed by LEGGETT in the forearm.

B.B." and "N.W." were taken to the hospital in Wolf Point. "B.B." was treated for multiple stab wounds, including a stab wound to his head, a laceration under his left eye, and a stab wound to the left side of his abdomen. "N.W." was treated for one stab wound to his left forearm.

The knife used by LEGGETT was recovered on March 5, 2006, by a Wolf Point police officer near the crime scene.

LEGGETT faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

United States Attorney's Office for the District of Montana
P.O. Box 1478
Billings, MT 59103

CONTACT
Kurt Alme
First Assistant U.S. Attorney
(406) 246-4669