RADFORD MARTIN LINDBERG 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 January 16, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, RADFORD MARTIN LINDBERG, a 32-year-old resident of Harlem, pled guilty to sexual abuse of a minor and abusive sexual contact. Sentencing is set for May 14, 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 or about June 23, 2006, LINDBERG and several other adults and children were at a residence located within the boundaries of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation.

Around 2:00 a.m., one of the women put five young girls in a bedroom together and closed the door so that they could go to sleep.

Eventually the rest of the individuals fell asleep in the living room. One of the individuals, who was the last to fall asleep, saw LINDBERG walk down the hallway, urinate on the floor, and walk into the room where all five girls were sleeping together on a bed.

LINDBERG went into the bedroom where he began to touch one of the girls, hereafter referred to as "K.W.", with his hand. "K.W." was 12-years-old at the time. When "K.W." woke up, she saw LINDBERG leaning against the bed. He was breathing heavily and "K.W." noticed he had one hand on her leg. LINDBERG proceeded to touch "K.W.'s" breasts and chest area with his hand under her shirt. He also placed his hands up "K.W.'s" shorts and touched the outside of her unclothed vaginal area with his fingers. "K.W." eventually got up and left the bedroom after telling LINDBERG to get out of the room.

Some time after 7:00 a.m., LINDBERG left the house.

LINDBERG faces possible penalties of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Anna S. Peckham 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