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Former tribal judge tied to homicides admits to unconnected drug charges
A Department of Criminal Investigation vehicle is parked in March near the scene of of a double homicide in Box Elder.
BLURB
By Tim Leeds
A former Chippewa Cree Tribal judge connected to a double homicide in Box Elder pleaded guilty Monday to unrelated drug charges, while a man who pleaded guilty to the crime was sentenced to 40 years in prison with a chance to reject the sentence.
Judge Kaydee Snipes Ruiz sentenced Angleo Hawk Sanchez in state District Court in Fort Benton Tuesday to 50 years in the Montana State Prison with 10 suspended and credit for 285 days served. She ordered him to pay $11,609 in restitution.
Sanchez was charged in connection with the deaths of Darrin Wade Caplette and Thomas "T.R" Yallup, who were shot and killed in the early morning hours of Much 28.
Snipes Ruiz said that as she was deviating from the recommended sentence in the plea agreement, Sanchez can reject the sentence.
Sanchez attorney, Molley Woodman, asked for some time to consult with her client to determine whether to accept the sentence or not.
Snipes Ruiz instructed Woodman to file notice, either way, by Friday.
A codefendant, Angelo Castillo-Haffley, is scheduled for trial March 24.
Another codefendant, who was 16 at the time of the shooting, has a status hearing scheduled for Feb. 10.
And the U.S. Attorney fo the District of Montana, Jesse Laslovich, said in a release Monday that Melody Rose Bernard of Rocky Boy pleaded in federal District Court in Great Falls Monday guilty to possession with intent to distribute controlled substances and to use of a firearm in the commission of a drug trafficking crime.
Bernard faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release on the drug charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Morris set sentencing for May 1, and Bernard was kept in custody pending sentencing.
Watch for more in Thursday’s edition of Havre Weekly Chronicle.
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