From the Courts: Federal District Court - Rocky Boy man admits domestic abuse

Press release

GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder resident admitted in federal court on Dec. 10 to domestic abuse charges for repeatedly assaulting the victim, U.S. Attorney Kurt G. Alme said.

Cole Young Bad Hawk, 24, pleaded guilty to domestic abuse by an habitual offender.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided at the hearing. Judge Morris set sentencing for March 21. Bad Hawk is detained.

Bad Hawk faces a maximum 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

If the case had gone to trial, the government would have provided the following information as evidence:

Bad Hawk assaulted the victim March 23, 2016, on Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation after becoming angry when he saw her messaging other people on her phone and thought she may be cheating on him. Bad Hawk called the victim names and punched her in the face with his fist, knocking her down. While the victim was down, Bad Hawk picked her up with one hand holding her hair and his other hand holding one leg and repeatedly body slammed her onto the floor.

Bad Hawk then dragged the victim into a bedroom where he continued calling her names. The victim ran into the bathroom and locked the door, but Bad Hawk kicked the door open and assaulted the victim while she was on the floor. From the bathroom, Bad Hawk took the victim back to the bedroom and squeezed her by neck with his hand, impeding her ability to breathe.

Bad Hawk has two prior domestic assault convictions involving the same victim in Chippewa Cree Tribal Court.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Cobell is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.