By Josh Margolis
ROCKY BOY, Mont. (NMB) – A Rocky Boy woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison without parole and ordered to pay $5,200 restitution after being found guilty of four charges, including negligent homicide, for causing the hit-and-run death of 16-year-old Lacey Kaide Arkinson in December 2019.
According to the court, this was the maximum sentence that could be handed down.
Shoshana Saddler, 36, was sentenced on Friday in Chippewa Cree Tribal Court by Special Judge Andrew Huff. She was taken into custody immediately following the proceedings. All four sentences will run consecutively, and the breakdown is as follows:
- Negligent Homicide: 1 year in prison without parole and a $5,000 fine
- Failure to report an accident: $100 fine
- Obstructing justice: 3 months in prison without parole and a fine of $50
- Destruction/Tampering evidence: 3 months in prison without parole and a fine of $50
Huff stated that this is an extremely disturbing case, and said that Saddler has had a serious problem with drugs and alcohol. He said that facts that emerged during the trial included that Saddler drank for several hours at a bar prior to the incident and that she was driving fast and never stopped or even braked after hitting Arkinson. In addition, Saddler hid the vehicle for several days after the incident until she secured a lawyer, and didn’t alert police of the incident. Huff also said that Saddler could have struck and killed another child who was walking alongside Arkinson.
Steve Henry was head counsel for the prosecution and spoke during the hearing, recommending the maximum sentence. Henry said this was the first homicide trial in known history of Chippewa Cree Tribal Court, and bemoaned the fact that due to the court’s limited authority, Saddler would receive only a fraction of the time in prison she would have if convicted of these offenses in state or federal court. Henry said that Saddler has six previous criminal charges of drunken driving, going back to 2004, and has shown minimal remorse or accountability.
Arkinson’s mother, Violet, gave emotional and heartbreaking testimony at the hearing. Fighting back tears, she said her life and heart have been shattered into a million pieces. She said Lacey was a mentor to her younger relatives and had dreams of attending college. But she said she forgives Saddler because “if I hold onto hate, I am a bitter person.”
Arkinson’s aunt, Florence Standing Rock, was unable to attend the hearing, but provided written testimony. Standing Rock says their family has experienced 2 1/2 long years of pain, but they forgive Saddler and wish her son a full and happy life.
Saddler was represented by Ted Koop, who asked the Court for a sentence less than the maximum because it was an accident. He presented two character reference letters to the Court, one from a high school teacher of Saddler and one from a colleague at Rocky Boy Health Center. The letters talked about Saddler’s creative ideas at work and her caring attitude toward youth.
Saddler herself spoke prior to the sentence being handed down. She said that the evening of the crash, her intentions weren’t what people say. She said she cares about youth and is sorry for the event and would like to take it back, adding that she prays the family finds peace and forgiveness.
In the prosecution’s final statement before the sentence was handed down, Henry reminded the court that this incident didn’t have to be intentional to be tragic, and that is what the charge of negligent homicide implies.
The $5,200 in restitution must be paid to the family of Arkinson.
