Fergus Falls Man Pleads Guilty to Burning Another Person’s Car

MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court in Duluth, a 32-year-old Fergus Falls man pleaded guilty to setting fire to another person’s car on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Kevin John Ehrich pleaded guilty to one count of arson. Ehrich, who was charged June 5, 2012, in a superseding indictment, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle.

In his plea agreement, Ehrich admitted that on March 28, 2010, he set fire to a 1991 Oldsmobile, destroying it to conceal that he had stolen it. Ehrich also admitted removing the vehicle’s identification number (VIN) in an effort to obstruct any subsequent investigation.

For his crime, Ehrich faces a potential maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. Judge Kyle will determine his sentence at a future hearing, yet to be scheduled. This case is the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Possession of a Firearm

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 49-year-old Red Lake man pleaded guilty to possessing with intent to distribute more than 2.5 kilograms of marijuana as well as possessing a firearm in support of drug trafficking. Keith Brian Donnell pleaded guilty to one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and one count of possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Donnell, who was indicted on November 22, 2011, entered his plea before United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis.

In his plea agreement, Donnell admitted that on April 14, 2011, he possessed with intent to distribute more than two kilograms of marijuana. The marijuana was found during the execution of a search warrant at his residence. Officers found it packaged as five separate bricks. In addition, police found five firearms in the residence, including a .22-caliber rifle, and $12,622 in cash. Donnell admitted that he possessed the firearm for protection because of the inherent danger associated with selling marijuana.

For his crimes, Donnell faces a potential maximum penalty of life in prison on the firearm possession count and five years on the marijuana count. The firearm possession charge carries a mandatory minimum penalty of five years. Judge Davis will determine his sentence at a future hearing. This case is the result of an investigation by the Safe Trails and Paul Bunyan Drug task forces, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

Redby Woman Sentenced for Being an Accessory to Violent Red Lake Crime

MINNEAPOLIS—Yesterday in federal court in Duluth, a 22-year-old Redby woman was sentenced for attempting to hide a suspect from federal agents. United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Jerilee Jane Head to 24 months in prison on one count of being an accessory after the fact. Head was indicted on March 8, 2011, and was convicted on January 24, 2012. She was ordered to remain in custody.

According to the indictment and the evidence presented at trial, Head assisted her boyfriend, Donald Leigh Clark, Jr., in his attempt to elude authorities. Clark was hiding from law enforcement after being charged with the November 3, 2010 killing of one man and the wounding of two others on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. Clark was ultimately found hiding under a blanket in the back seat of Head’s vehicle on January 15, 2011, after Head had tried but failed to lure federal agents away from the car.

On February 7, 2012, Clark, age 23, also of Redby, was sentenced to 120 months in prison on one count of discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence, specifically during the shooting of Julian Keith DeMarrias.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; the Headwaters Safe Trails Task Force; and the U.S. Marshals Service. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Red Lake Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting a Man with an Axe Handle

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 47-year-old Red Lake man pleaded guilty to assaulting a Grand Rapids man with an axe handle. Joseph William Howard, Jr. pleaded guilty to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Howard, who was indicted on February 22, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge John R. Tunheim.

In his plea agreement, Howard admitted that on January 13, 2012, he assaulted the victim at a Redby residence without just cause. According to a law enforcement affidavit filed in the case, authorities were called to a residence on the Red Lake Indian Reservation on that day. There, they found the victim, whose face had been severely beaten and lacerated. Officers also discovered blood splattered on the bed and bedroom walls where the victim was staying. A bloody axe handle was ultimately found behind the dryer in the home’s utility room. As a result of the assault, the victim suffered multiple fractures, and his left eye was so badly damaged it had to be surgically removed.

For his crime, Howard faces a potential maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Judge Tunheim will determine his sentence at a future hearing. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Deidre Y. Aanstad.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Red Lake Woman Sentenced for Maiming Another

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court in Duluth, a 25-year-old Red Lake woman was sentenced for maiming another Red Lake woman by biting her ear off and biting her nose.

United States District Court Judge Richard H. Kyle sentenced Joelyn Rose Hart to five years of probation, including six months in a community corrections facility, on one count of maiming.

Hart was indicted on June 8, 2011 and pleaded guilty on July 14, 2011.

In her plea agreement, Hart admitted that on January 1, 2009, she intended to torture, maim, and disfigure another woman by biting off her ear and biting her nose. The incident occurred during a New Year’s Day party on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. The victim had to undergo three reconstructive surgeries to re-attach and repair her ear.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle E. Jones.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Red Lake Man Sentenced for Sexually Abusing a Woman

MINNEAPOLIS—Earlier today in federal court, a 30-year-old Red Lake man was sentenced for sexually abusing a woman while on the Red Lake Indian Reservation. United States District Court Chief Judge Michael J. Davis sentenced Douglas Wayne Tarnow to 480 months in prison on one count of aggravated sexual abuse. Tarnow was indicted on March 8, 2011 and was convicted on May 19, 2011.

According to the indictment and the evidence presented at trial, Tarnow caused the woman to engage in a sexual act by force. A law enforcement affidavit filed in the case states that Tarnow convinced the woman to meet him at his aunt’s residence on January 30, 2011. At 10:30 p.m., the woman arrived, and she and Tarnow began arguing. During the course of that argument, Tarnow grabbed the woman, threw her to the ground, and assaulted her. He then forced her to have sex with him.

This case was the result of an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Red Lake Tribal Police Department, with assistance from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s Office.

It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.

Because the Red Lake Indian Reservation is a federal-jurisdiction reservation, some of the crimes that occur there are investigated by the FBI in conjunction with the Red Lake Tribal Police Department. Those cases are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The U.S. Justice Department is taking steps to increase engagement, coordination, and action relative to public safety in tribal communities, including the creation of the Violence Against Women Federal and Tribal Prosecution Task Force. This task force explores current issues raised by professionals in the field and recommends “best practices” in prosecution strategies involving domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.

Violence against American Indian women occurs at epidemic rates. In 2005, Congress reported that one in three American Indian women is raped during her lifetime, and American Indian women are nearly three times more likely to be battered during their lives as Caucasian women.