Blackfeet Tribal Council members to change plea

(HELENA) – THREE FORMER BLACKFEET TRIBAL BUSINESS COUNCIL MEMBERS

HAVE AGREED TO CHANGE THEIR PLEA TO GUILTY ON CHARGES OF HOLDING ILLEGAL

BIG GAME HUNTS FOR UP AND COMING COUNTRY MUSICIANS AND AN OUTDOORS

TELEVISION SHOW IN 2010 AND 2011.

THE DEALS CALL FOR JAY ST. GODDARD, JAY WELLS AND GAYLE SKUNKCAP JR.

TO PLEAD GUILTY TO THE ILLEGAL SALE OF WILDLIFE AND THEFT FROM A TRIBAL

GOVERNMENT RECEIVING FEDERAL FUNDING.

THE U-S ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WOULD DROP FOUR OTHER CHARGES UNDER THE

PLEA AGREEMENT.     A CHANGE OF PLEA HEARING IS SCHEDULED IN FEDERAL DISTRICT

COURT TOMORROW (TUES.-THIS) AFTERNOON.

THE PLEA DEALS WERE STRUCK AFTER U-S- DISTRICT JUDGE SAM HADDON RULED

THE MEN COULD NOT CALL TRIBAL ELDERS TO TESTIFY THAT TRIBAL CUSTOMS SUCH AS

HUNTS FOR DIGNITARIES CARRY THE SAME WEIGHT AS ORDINANCES UNDER TRIBAL LAW.

THE COUNTRY MUSIC SINGERS INCLUDED JOSH THOMPSON AND JUSTIN MOORE.

THOMPSON SHOT A BULL ELK IN AN OCTOBER 2010 HUNT.   MOORE SHOT A BULL ELK

DURING A HUNT IN 2011 AND MUSICIAN MARK COOKE SHOT A MOOSE.