Houle sentenced to more than 14 years for shooting man in the back of the head

from U.S. Attorney for District of Montana

GREAT FALLS — Dakota Houle has been sentenced to more than 14 years in prison after previously admitting to shooting a man in the back of the head with a shotgun in an attempt to kill him on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.

Houle, 26, was sentenced Wednesday to 14 years and two months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, by U.S. District Judge Brian Morris, U.S. Attorney Leif M. Johnson said in a press release.

Houle pleaded guilty in December to assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault resulting in serious bodily injury and use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

The government alleged in court documents that March 17, 2019, Houle, another man and two wmoen were at a residence. The group lured the victim, identified as John Doe, to the residence they were in using social media.

Shortly after Doe arrived, Houle and the male individual attacked and beat Doe, and robbed him at gun point. They forced Doe to remove his shoes and told him they were going to take him into the mountains to kill him.

Doe was forced at gun point into the front-passenger seat of his own car, while Houle sat directly behind Doe in the rear-side passenger seat with a shotgun in hand. The women were passengers. The other man drove the car toward the mountains as Doe pleaded for his life.

When the vehicle slowed for a cattle guard, Doe reached over and jerked the steering wheel, causing the car to go into a ditch. Doe jumped out and attempted to escape.  The male individual shouted at Houle that Doe was “getting away” and to “shoot” him. Houle shot Doe in the back of the head, intending to kill him.

Believing Doe was dead, Houle and the others fled on foot. Doe suffered serious life-threatening injuries and has permanent damage as a result of the shooting.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jared C. Cobell and Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services.