A 20-year-old Wyoming man has been sentenced to life in prison for his role in a double murder and assault in Montana.
Jesus Deniz Mendoza, 20, of Worland, Wyoming, was sentenced to life in prison in Billings federal court after pleading guilty to a superseding information charging him with two counts of second-degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of using a gun during crimes of violence.
U.S. District Court Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the sentencing. Mendoza was also ordered to pay $12,713 in restitution.
The charges in this case stemmed from the events that occurred on July 29, 2015, in Pryor, Montana. A man and woman were shot and killed on Pryor Gap Road, near the St. Charles Mission School and Plenty Coups Park.
A 20-year-old woman, the daughter of the victims, was also shot and wounded in the attack. She managed to escape and get help. The woman told investigators that she and her parents had stopped to help Mendoza, who was stranded on the side of the road. Mendoza then pointed a gun at them and demanded money.
After the woman and her parents were shot, Mendoza fled the scene in their car. He was later tracked down by law enforcement and arrested in Wyoming. During a recorded interview, Mendoza admitted to shooting the three people and driving away from the scene in their vehicle.
The case against Mendoza was investigated by the FBI and the Crow Nation Police Department. The prosecution was handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
Defendant: Jesus Deniz Mendoza
Criminal Charges: Two counts of second-degree murder, assault with intent to commit murder, assault with a dangerous weapon, and three counts of using a gun during crimes of violence
City and State: Billings, Montana
Exact Date: July 29, 2015 (crime date), and March 24, 2023 (sentencing date)
Sentence or Outcome: Life in prison with $12,713 in restitution
Dollar Amounts: $12,713 in restitution
Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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