GREAT FALLS – In a chilling turn of events in Poplar, Montana, Michael J. Ackerman, also known as Michael J. Littlebull, 73, appeared yesterday in court on a complaint charging him with three counts of second-degree murder.
According to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme, the defendant stands accused of taking the lives of three individuals on September 11th. If convicted, Ackerman faces life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five years of supervised release.
The arraignment was presided over by U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan, with Ackerman being detained pending further proceedings. The charges stem from an affidavit that reveals a harrowing admission made by Ackerman to Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office on September 14, 2025. He confessed to using methamphetamine with the three victims and shooting them dead with his Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol.
The deceased were found at Ackerman’s residence in Poplar, having succumbed to apparent gunshot wounds. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is handling the prosecution of this harrowing case, which is being investigated by the FBI, the Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice, and the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office.
As with all criminal cases, Ackerman is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The PACER case reference number is 25-106, allowing those interested to monitor the progress of this case through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system.
To establish a PACER account for electronic access to court documents, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. For the District Court’s calendar, visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.
RELATED: Poplar Massacre: 73-Year-Old Faces Triple Homicide
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Drug Trafficking|Fraud & Financial Crimes|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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