District of Montana

AMY SUE WHITEGRASS 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 September 17, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, AMY SUE WHITEGRASS, an 18-year-old resident of Browning, pled guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Sentencing is set for January 5, 2009. She 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 May 2, 2008, in the early morning hours, the victim, C.G., went looking for WHITEGRASS, his girlfriend. C.G. located WHITEGRASS in the home of another male, and told her to "come on, let's go." C.G. and WHITEGRASS then walked to a friend's home, which is located on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Upon arriving at the friend's home, C.G. and WHITEGRASS began arguing. During the argument, C.G. pushed WHITEGRASS' face and she hit her lip on a coffee table. After she hit her lip, WHITEGRASS walked into the kitchen, picked up a knife, and walked back into the living room where C.G. was seated on the couch. WHITEGRASS walked across the living room, sat on C.G.'s lap and "chopped" C.G. in the head with the knife. C.G. was taken to Indian Health Services hospital in Browning and received medical treatment for the knife wound.

WHITEGRASS faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Vince Carroll prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

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