(Great Falls) A Browning man accused of shooting and wounding a man in the head on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation admitted to charges, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.
Joseph Paul Vandenberg, 20, pleaded guilty to assault with a dangerous weapon and using a firearm during a crime of violence as charged in an indictment. Vandenberg faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release on the assault charge and a mandatory minimum of five years to life in prison, consecutive to any other sentence, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release on the firearm charge.
Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. The court set sentencing for July 11. Vandenberg was detained pending further proceedings.
