Law

U.S. Attorney visits Fort Peck Reservation

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

Bill Mercer, the U.S. Attorney for Montana, began a two-day visit to the Fort Peck Reservation on Monday.

More than 100 people attended a community forum at Fort Peck Community College. Tribal members told Mercer they fear for their safety because crimes seem to be going unpunished.

"We have criminals that are simply unafraid of prosecution," Chairman A.T. "Rusty" Stafne said, The Great Falls Tribune reported.

Tribal members gave examples of suspicious deaths that they say have gone without prosecution. Laurie Holm said she has kept track of 22 unsolved homicides over the past 20 years.

Mercer has faced criticism for being an "absent" U.S. Attorney. He only spent three days a month in Montana while he held down a top Department of Justice post in Washington, D.C.

Mercer left that post this year and is back in Montana full-time. He will meet with Fort Peck tribal leaders today.

Get the Story:
Citizens seek ways to make Fort Peck Reservation a safer place (The Great Falls Tribune 12/18)

Relevant Links:
Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes - http://www.fortpecktribes.org
U.S. Attorney, District of Montana - http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/mt