Jensen-Rowe Changes Plea To No Contest
Less than a week before her trial was scheduled to begin in Wolf Point, Brianna Jensen-Rowe made “no contest” pleas to the charges of deliberate homicide and tampering with evidence in district court on Tuesday, Jan. 27.
Jensen-Rowe made the pleas in regards to killing her sister on Aug. 3, 2024.
During Tuesday’s hearing, her attorney, Gerald Harris, asked Jensen-Rowe why she was making a “no contest” plea instead of a guilty plea. Jensen-Rowe agreed that she couldn’t remember everything that happened during the night of the crime.
After being asked by District Judge Benjamin Fosland, Jensen- Rowe agreed that she believes a jury could find her guilty of the crimes and that it’s her best interest to not go to trial.
Fosland accepted the plea and ordered a pre-sentencing investigation.
A sentencing hearing was scheduled for 1 p.m. on Tuesday, March 24. The hearing is anticipated to last two hours.
Jensen-Rowe signed the plea agreement on Friday, Jan. 23. When asked by Fosland whether she was ready to make a “no contest” plea at the hearing, the defendant answered, “I don’t know.”
After she talked with her attorney during a 15-minute recess, Jensen-Rowe then was prepared to make the “no contest” plea. Harris explained, “the crushing reality of what’s happening hit her.”
State attorney Eric Kitzmiller said the State had significant evidence that Jensen-Rowe had an argument with her sister and then purposely stabbed her sister. After fleeing the scene, Jensen-Rowe than discarded the knife.
A person convicted of deliberate homicide could be punished by death, by life imprisonment or by imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than 10 years or more than 100 years.
Lists of exhibits from the State included two 911 audios, two photos of text messages, photos of where the victim was stabbed, photos of the house where the defendant fled after the alleged homicide, a knife, photos of where knife was found, photos of defendant’s clothes, photo of green bag where drug straws were found, photo of contents of green bag, photo of drug paraphernalia, photos of victim’s clothes, serology report, DNA report, chemical analysis report and body camera at crime scene and hospital.
According to court records, including an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice officer was dispatched at approximately 8:18 p.m. on Aug. 3, 2024, for a reported stabbing.
The officer observed the victim on the ground gasping for air. When the officer attempted to speak with the victim, she said the defendant stabbed her. The victim then began fading in and out of consciousness. The victim was later pronounced dead at the hospital in Wolf Point.
On Aug. 19, 2024, the State of Montana charged the defendant with four counts: deliberate homicide, tampering with physical evidence, criminal possession of drug paraphernalia and obstructing a peace officer.
