Sergio Antonio Lopez, Assault by Striking, Beating, or Wounding, Montana 2022

State: Montana
Category: Violent Crime
Source: <a href="https://www.justice.gov/usao-mt/pr/hardin-man-admits-assault-woman-crow-indian-reservation" style="color:#cc0000;" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">DOJ Press Release ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Â Ã¢â‚¬â€

A brutal assault on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana has led to a guilty plea from a Hardin man. Sergio Antonio Lopez, 33, admitted to an assault charge in a Billings courtroom.

Lopez pleaded guilty to assault by striking, beating, or wounding, a misdemeanor, as charged in a superseding information. According to U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich, Lopez faces a maximum of one year in prison, a $100,000 fine, and one year of supervised release.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over the case. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Lopez was released pending further proceedings, with sentencing set for Dec. 15.

According to court documents, Lopez was part of a group of bounty hunters, along with the victim, Jane Doe, who was not identified by her real name. The group arrested an individual with outstanding state warrants at Jane Doe’s home in Lodge Grass on Aug. 20, 2022. During the arrest, Lopez allegedly assaulted Jane Doe by pulling her hair, hitting, and kicking her.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek is prosecuting the case. The FBI conducted the investigation.

Lopez’s guilty plea is a significant development in the case, which highlights the often violent nature of bounty hunting. The case serves as a reminder of the importance of accountability in law enforcement and the need for stricter regulations on bounty hunting practices.

The case is a stark reminder that violence can occur anywhere, even on the Crow Indian Reservation. The community is likely to be shaken by this incident, and it remains to be seen how Lopez’s sentence will be received.

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