Sage Ferguson Pleads Guilty in U.S. Federal Court

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana
March 14, 2012

The United States Attorney’s Office announced that during a federal court session in Great Falls on March 13, 2012 before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, SAGE FERGUSON, a 18-year-old resident of Rocky Boy and an enrolled member of the Chippewa Cree Indian Tribe, pled guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Sentencing has been set for June 25, 2012. He is currently detained.

In an offer of proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Danna R. Jackson, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On August 28, 2011, while intoxicated, FERGUSON crashed a truck within the exterior boundaries of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.

As a result of the crash, a passenger was injured. The passenger was diagnosed with a thoracic fracture and is paralyzed from the waist down.

A witness would have testified that in advance of the crash, FERGUSON had been driving recklessly. Specifically, a witness stated that he was “fishtailing” and had been urged not to drive because of his intoxicated state.

FERGUSON faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years’ supervised release.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Montana Highway Patrol, and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement.