Informational: Federal Court Arraignments

The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on September 21, 2010, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Carolyn S. Ostby, the following individuals were arraigned:

CELESTE ANN WATSON, a 61-year-old resident of Billings, appeared on a charge of conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine. She is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, WATSON faces possible penalties of five to 40 years in prison, a $2,000,000 fine, and four years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Lori Harper Suek and Jessica T. Fehr are the prosecutors for the United States. The investigation was conducted by a cooperative effort between Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Indian Affairs, City-County Special Investigation Unit and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Big Sky Safe Streets Task Force, which includes the Billings Police Department and the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office.

BERT TRAVIS LITTLE OWL, a 38-year-old resident of Crow Agency, appeared on a charge of aggravated sexual abuse. He is currently released on special conditions. If convicted of this charge, LITTLE OWL faces possible penalties of up to life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years' supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia Hurd is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The defendants pled not guilty to the charges.

The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and all persons named as defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.