NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, March 01, 2007

RONNIE DAN PEASE JR. 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 Billings on March 1, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, RONNIE DAN PEASE JR., a 29-year-old resident of Lodge Grass, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing is set for May 24, 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 the evening of December 1, 2005, PEASE and a male individual, hereafter referred to as "the victim", had been drinking at the victim's residence in Lodge Grass. PEASE'S girlfriend was also present.

At some point during the evening, PEASE and the victim left the residence to buy more alcohol. PEASE'S girlfriend remained at the residence with her daughter. Sometime around 11:30 p.m., PEASE and the victim returned to the house. The girlfriend assumed that PEASE and the victim had gotten into a fight because the victim had blood on his face.

PEASE and the victim continued to argue as they entered the house. The argument escalated when PEASE grabbed a full bottle of whiskey and hit the victim in the face with the bottle. PEASE and the victim continued to fight and fell to the ground wrestling. The girlfriend then observed PEASE grab a VCR and throw it on the victim's head. She stated that she thought PEASE also threw a television on the head of the victim as well. During this time, the victim was on the floor in a defensive position. The girlfriend never saw the victim use any weapons during the fight.

The victim was treated for his injuries at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings. The victim had been transferred to St. Vincent's from Crow Agency because he was unconscious and unresponsive. An X-ray revealed a subdural hematoma and facial lacerations. The hematoma was treated by performing a craniotomy during surgery.

PEASE 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.

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

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