THOMAS LION SHOWS, 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 January 3, 2007, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, THOMAS LION SHOWS, JR., a 24-year-old resident of Lodge Grass, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. Sentencing is set for April 18, 2007. He is currently released on special conditions.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In October of 2005, the victim of this offense, then 17-years-old, disclosed that she had been sexually abused by LION SHOWS.

In March and again in June of 2006, LION SHOWS was interviewed by law enforcement. LION SHOWS initially denied any sexual activity with the victim; however, during the second interview, LION SHOWS admitted that he had digitally penetrated the victim on numerous occasions when she was between the ages of six and nine. LION SHOWS also admitted engaging in sexual intercourse with the victim on three occasions when the victim was approximately thirteen years old. LIONS SHOWS was nineteen years old at the time.

LION SHOWS faces possible penalties of 15 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