N.D. man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter

Acting U.S. Attorney Lynn Jordheim announced that on Thursday, Marcus Lone Bear, Jr., 18, of New Town, N.D., was found guilty by a federal jury of the offense of voluntary manslaughter. U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland presided.

On Oct. 15, 2009, Lone Bear and the victim were at a residence in New Town,

on the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation. Around 7:45 a.m., after having

consumed alcohol during the night, Lone Bear and the victim became involved in a dispute. Authorities said Lone Bear retrieved a knife from the kitchen of the home and slashed the victim in the face with the knife. Lone Bear returned to the kitchen and the victim followed him.

When the victim entered the kitchen, Lone Bear stabbed him in the neck with the knife.

The victim later died from the injury.

The charge of voluntary manslaughter carries a statutory maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs - Fort Berthold Agency, Three Affiliated Tribes Police Department, Mountrail County Sheriff’s Department and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Sentencing for Lone Bear, Jr., has been scheduled for Aug. 16, 2010, in U.S. District Court in Minot.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Volk is prosecuting the case.

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