ROBERT MATTHEW PAUL MITCHELL SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT

Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on April 23, 2007, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, ROBERT MATTHEW PAUL MITCHELL, a 31-year-old resident of Box Elder, appeared for sentencing. MITCHELL was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 150 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: life

MITCHELL was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to sexual abuse.

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

During the evening of June 24, 2006, a young woman hereafter referred to as L.A.A., and a girlfriend were celebrating the girlfriend's 21st birthday. They went to two bars in Box Elder and then to a friend's house where they continued to drink. Several individuals were present at the house, including MITCHELL.

At some point after L.A.A. arrived the house, MITCHELL grabbed her after she had exited the bathroom. L.A.A. hit MITCHELL in the back of the head and told him to stop trying to grab her. MITCHELL then left the house.

At approximately 1:30 a.m., L.A.A., was given a ride to her grandmother's house. Later MITCHELL came to the house and asked to sleep on the couch as the police were looking for him. Shortly thereafter, MITCHELL went into the bedroom where L.A.A. was sleeping.

Approximately ten minutes later, L.A.A. was awakened by the presence of a male on top of her engaging in sexual intercourse. Upon waking up, L.A.A. initially thought it was her boyfriend. L.A.A. then reached up to feel the male's face and realized it was not her boyfriend. At this time, a female entered the bedroom and turned on the lights because she had heard noises coming from the bedroom. L.A.A. then saw that the male was not her boyfriend, but MITCHELL. L.A.A. subsequently put on some clothes and left the house. In a written statement, MITCHELL admitted that he had intended to have sex with L.A.A. and that he had indeed had sexual intercourse with her. MITCHELL also admitted that L.A.A. was initially unaware of what was happening to her, but after the first few minutes of contact and sexual intercourse, she woke up.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MITCHELL will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MITCHELL does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

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) 247-4669