HAVRE, Mont. (NMB) – A Havre man has been charged with deliberate homicide after an altercation at the Hill County Detention Center left one man dead. Jesse Shane Valdez allegedly attacked and killed Gordon Cochran in his cell at the detention center on the evening of November 17th.
Court documents say Valdez may have believed that Cochran had something to do with a relatives death. Valdez admitted to the fight, saying it started over Cochran calling him a name. Valdez claimed he was acting in self defense, but admitted to stomping on Cochran’s neck while he was on the ground and throwing him into the wall. It’s believed Cochran’s severe head wound occurred after he hit the metal edge of the bunk.
As of Tuesday morning, Valdez was still being held in the Hill County Detention Center on bonds totaling over $545,000.
