From the Courts: Man sentenced to prison for domestic abuse

U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana

GREAT FALLS — A man who admitted to assaulting a woman with whom he was in a relationship on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation was sentenced Tuesday to two years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Clay James Bad Hawk, 25, pleaded guilty in October 2022 to domestic abuse by a habitual offender.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in December 2021, Bad Hawk punched, slapped, kicked and strangled the victim, identified as Jane Doe, with whom he was in a relationship. Bad Hawk assaulted Jane Doe in a bedroom in his residence, and two girls from across the street yelled through the bedroom window at Bad Hawk that the police were called. Jane Doe hid under the porch until she was found by police. Jane Doe was treated for injuries at a local hospital. Bad Hawk had two prior domestic violence convictions from the Chippewa Cree Tribal Court.

The FBI, Chippewa Cree Tribal Law Enforcement and Rocky Boy’s Police Department investigated the case.