Fort Belknap Man Admits Firing at Women

A man accused of firing a pistol at two women in a housing area on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has admitted to an assault charge, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

Gilbert Raymond Martinez, 32, of Fort Belknap and North Dakota, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon. Martinez faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for Sept. 19. Martinez was detained pending further proceedings.

In court documents, the government alleged on May 17, 2021, Martinez fired a 9mm pistol at two women in the Newtown Housing area of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. The second woman told the responding officer that if she had not moved out of the way, the bullet would have hit her.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office is prosecuting the case. The FBI, Fort Belknap Police Department and Blaine County Sheriff’s Office conducted the investigation.

Martinez’s guilty plea comes after a lengthy investigation into the alleged assault. The FBI and local law enforcement agencies worked together to gather evidence and build a case against Martinez.

The case highlights the ongoing issue of violence on Native American reservations. The Fort Belknap Indian Reservation has seen a number of high-profile crimes in recent years, including murders and assaults.

U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich praised the work of the FBI and local law enforcement agencies in bringing Martinez to justice. “We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the citizens of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and hold those responsible for violent crimes accountable,” he said.