Deserly, Lester Make Not Guilty Pleas
Two individuals accused of murdering a man on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation were arraigned last week, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.
Abrianne Lillian Deserly, 24, and Calvin Florin Lester, 35, both of Wolf Point, pleaded not guilty to an indictment charging both defendants with second degree murder. If convicted of the charge contained in the indictment, the defendants each face a maximum term of imprisonment of life, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided. Both defendants were detained pending further proceedings.
The indictment alleges that on Feb. 26, near Wolf Point, the defendants unlawfully and with malice aforethought, that is recklessly with extreme disregard for human life, killed John Doe, and aided and abetted the same.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law & Justice and Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.
The trial date for Deserly and Lester has been scheduled for July 8.
