Logan Quinn Sandau Sentenced in U.S. District Court

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana
February 13, 2013

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls on February 12, 2013 before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, LOGAN QUINN SANDAU, a 24-year-old resident of Poplar and an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe, appeared for sentencing. SANDAU was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 45 months
Special Assessment: $200
Supervised Release: three years

SANDAU was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Laura B. Weiss and Ryan G. Weldon, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On June 9, 2012, SANDAU struck J.W.S. with his car outside a residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation. The victim suffered multiple leg fractures, a torn ACL, and underwent orthopedic and skin grafting procedures.

The victim was with his brother the day of the offense. They arrived at their cousin’s house. Words were exchanged between SANDAU and the victim, resulting in SANDAU threatening to kill the victim. The victim then began punching SANDAU. SANDAU fell, then jumped up and ran to the driver’s side of his vehicle. He hopped in and accelerated around the house. The victim did not chase him. SANDAU began driving down the alley toward the victim, who was standing near the house. SANDAU first slowed down when he approached, then suddenly hit the gas and struck the victim, pinning him against the house. Several eye witnesses saw this event transpire and identified SANDAU as the driver.

The victim suffered multiple injuries, including several leg fractures, a torn ACL, cut tendons requiring surgery, and skin grafts.

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

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Fort Peck Tribes Criminal Investigation Division, and the Poplar Police Department.