JAMES DEAN YOUNGMAN 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 June 2, 2006, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, JAMES DEAN YOUNGMAN, a 49-year-old resident of Poplar, pled guilty to sexual abuse. Sentencing is set for July 6, 2006. He is currently detained.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial that during the early morning of September 9, 2004, in Poplar, within the boundaries of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, a twenty-two year old female was sleeping on a couch at a relative's residence. Prior to going to sleep on the couch, the female consumed alcohol to the point of intoxication. YOUNGMAN, an enrolled member of the Fort Peck Tribes, was present at the residence while the female was sleeping on the couch.

At about 4:00 a.m., the female woke up while YOUNGMAN was attempting to engage in a sexual act with her. She yelled at YOUNGMAN to get off of her. An individual who was also in the residence at that time heard her yelling at YOUNGMAN and came into the room.

He observed the female sitting up on the couch and pulling up her pants that were around her ankles. She told the him that YOUNGMAN had done this to her. The female then called the police. Shortly thereafter, the police arrived and arrested YOUNGMAN at the residence.

About a year prior to this incident, YOUNGMAN had engaged in sexual intercourse with this same female while she was asleep. However, she did not report the prior sexual assault to the police at that time.

YOUNGMAN faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and lifetime supervision.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig W. Haller prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Peck Criminal Investigation Division.

A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.