GREAT FALLS, MONTANA – In a shocking display of violence, a Box Elder man has been sentenced to over 4 years in prison for an assault on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation.
Mario Patacsil, Jr., 57, pleaded guilty in October 2025 to one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury. The harsh sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge William W. Mercer, who will oversee Patacsil’s supervised release after his prison term.
The disturbing incident occurred on July 22, 2024, when law enforcement officers were dispatched to a house on the reservation after a 911 call reporting that Patacsil had shot John Doe in the arm. However, upon arrival, Doe revealed that he had not been shot, but instead had been brutally beaten with a wooden cane, which had impaled his eye.
According to eyewitnesses, the officers could see Doe’s right eye was swollen and had a circular wound around it, consistent with being prodded with the bottom of a cane. Doe also suffered bruising on his forearm, further evidence of the brutal assault.
The FBI interviewed both Doe and Patacsil, who described an argument that escalated into Patacsil ‘poking’ Doe with his cane before fleeing the scene. Doe was rushed to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, where he underwent surgery for a ruptured orbital globe, resulting in permanent vision loss in his right eye.
In a desperate attempt to save his eye, Doe traveled out of state for additional surgery in August 2024. Unfortunately, the surgery was unsuccessful, and Doe was left with permanent vision loss in his right eye.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case, with the FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducting the investigation. The harsh sentence handed down by Judge Mercer serves as a stark reminder of the severe consequences of violent crime on our communities.
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- Dewayne C. Shoots, Jr., Assault with a Dangerous Weapon, Montana 2021 · Texas
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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