Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that BRIAN WALTER WEBER, age 31, and LINCOLN BENAVIDES, age 33, were arraigned during a federal court session in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch.

The fifteen count indictment filed against BENAVIDES and WEBER includes charges of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine, distribution of methamphetamine, murder while engaged in drug trafficking, and violent crimes in aid of racketeering. Both of the defendants are charged in nine of the counts.

The indictment alleges that on November 6, 2001, in Ravalli County, WEBER intentionally killed Brenda Patch, Cynthia Paulus, and Dorothy Harris while engaged in drug trafficking. The indictment further alleges that BENAVIDES, while engaged in drug trafficking, counseled, commanded, induced, or procured the killings of Brenda Patch, Cynthia Paulus, and Dorothy Harris.

The death penalty may be available for convictions of either murder while engaged in drug trafficking or violent crimes in aid of racketeering. United States Attorney Mercer announced that "the decision whether the United States will seek the death penalty is vested in the Attorney General of the United States and that no decision has been made on this question as of this time."

The Federal Bureau of Investigation served as the federal investigative agency in this case. Timothy J. Fuhrman, Special Agent in Charge of the Salt Lake Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, stated, "The FBI has been fortunate to work with local law enforcement partners, particularly the Ravalli County Sheriff's Office, in this investigation for more than six years which led to the indictments in this case."

Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman expressed gratitude for the help and support of the FBI, Missoula County law enforcement agencies, and other local, state, and federal authorities since November, 2001. Sheriff Hoffman added, "On behalf of the Patch, Harris, and Paulus families, I request continued respect for their privacy from the media and the community."

WEBER and BENAVIDES entered not guilty pleas to the charges. Both defendants are detained.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joseph E. Thaggard and Josh Van de Wetering are the prosecutors for the United States.

The charge in the indictment is merely an accusation and both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The government will be required to prove the allegations beyond a reasonable doubt.