Lane Blake Kirkaldie, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon and Simple Assault, Montana 2026

A Hays man has been sentenced to a year in prison for assaulting two women on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, according to a recent sentencing.

Lane Blake Kirkaldie, 21, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault. For the assault with a dangerous weapon charge, Kirkaldie will serve 12 months in prison; for the simple assault, he'll serve six months. The two sentences will run concurrent.

The crime took place in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025, at a house on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, where a group of people had gathered to celebrate New Year's. An altercation occurred between Kirkaldie and Jane Doe 2, with whom he was in a romantic relationship. Kirkaldie was told to leave, but he refused. The two women left the house with him, and the trio walked to a business in Lodge Pole.

Surveillance video captured Kirkaldie throwing things and lunging towards Jane Doe 2. The video also shows him making threatening comments while holding a glass bottle. A second surveillance video shows Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 leave the building, with Kirkaldie trailing them outside. He tried to approach Jane Doe 2, and Jane Doe 1 put herself between them. She held Kirkaldie back as Jane Doe 2 returned inside. Kirkaldie then pushed Jane Doe 1 away and struck her in the head with the glass bottle, which cut her head deeply enough to require stitches.

A third surveillance video captures the three back inside the building. Both women are crying, and Kirkaldie can be heard making more threatening comments. He then appears to strike or attempt to strike Jane Doe 2 in the face.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case, with the FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducting the investigation. Kirkaldie's sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris.

The case highlights the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, particularly in situations where violence and threats are involved. As the community works to rebuild and heal, it is crucial that those responsible for these crimes are brought to justice.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/hays-man-sentenced-year-prison-assaulting-women