A member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe is facing tough questions about his past as he runs for sheriff in Big Horn County, Montana.

Lawrence "Pete" Big Hair serves as deputy sheriff in the county. It's his prior record as a Bureau of Indian Affairs officer that is under attack.

He was accused in one civil lawsuit of raping a woman as he took her to a BIA jail. In another suit, he was accused of wrongful death because his service revolver was taken from his home and used in a murder.

Both suits were settled by the federal government and Big Hair did not admit to any wrongdoing.

Big Hair's rival isn't doing any better. Debbie Uffelman Winburn also serves as a deputy sheriff but she isn't a certified state law officer. She didn't complete her Montana Law Enforcement Academy training because she was involved in a gender discrimination dispute that was resolved in her favor.

Get the Story:
Big Horn sheriff candidates defend records (The Billings Gazette 10/26)

Relevant Documents:
Lawrence "Pete" Big Hair Court Documents

$ad1