Henry found not guilty, other charges pending

The four-day trial of former Stone Child College President Melody Henry ended Friday with a not guilty verdict from the jury.

The jury at U.S. District Court in Great Falls began deliberating at 10:24 a.m. and came back at 2:45 p.m. with the verdict.

Both Melody Henry and her husband, Frank Henry, were acquitted on all counts, which included charges of conspiracy to embezzle federal grant and contract funds,

theft from an Indian tribal government receiving federal funding, accepting bribes and theft from an Indian tribal organization.

Their maximum penalties for their charges were five years in prison with

three years supervised release and a $250,000 fine for each count of conspiracy to embezzle and theft from a tribal organization.

They could also have received 10 years in federal prison with three of supervised release with a $250,000 fine for both the bribery and theft from the government.

Several leaders on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation testified during the four-day trial — some for Henry and some for federal prosecutors.

The verdict was the first setback for prosecutors who have charged more than a dozen people in the corruption scandal centered at Rocky Boy. All of the others charges in the scandal have been pleaded guilty to reduced charges or have been convicted at trial.

However, the Melody Henry is not home free yet.

She is still scheduled for a plea agreement for separate charges, which are one charge of embezzlement from an Indian tribal organization and one charge of embezzlement from an Indian tribal government. The plea agreement deadline is scheduled for March 30 and the trial is scheduled for April 13.

Frank Henry is not included in these charges.