From Deseret News archives:
Goshute admits he took tribal funds but disputes amount
Sammy Blackbear pleaded guilty to one count of theft from an Indian tribal organization. Federal prosecutors contend Blackbear took $25,000 in the single act of theft on Oct. 2, 2001. Blackbear, however, maintains it was much less than that and will dispute the amount at a June hearing.
Defense attorney David Finlayson acknowledged Monday that $25,000 can be traced back to Blackbear through receipts but said some of it went to legitimate tribal expenses, such as attorneys' fees.
Blackbear, 40, was charged in December 2003 along with fellow Goshutes Marlinda Moon and Miranda Wash and tribal attorney Duncan Steadman. Those defendants have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled to stand trial on the charges in June.
Under the terms of his plea agreement, Blackbear will be required to cooperate, and possibly testify, in the government's case against Moon, Wash and Steadman, as well as a related case against tribal chairman Leon D. Bear.
The trio are part of a faction opposed to Bear's ongoing leadership of the small band. Bear has been a major proponent of storing high-level nuclear waste on Goshute land in Utah's west desert, leading to dissention and contentious leadership disputes among the Goshutes.
Bear is scheduled to go to trial next month on a separate federal indictment, also handed down in December 2003. The embattled Goshute leader is charged with one count of theft from Indian tribal organizations, one count of theft concerning federally funded programs, and three counts of fraud and false statements.
Blackbear faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine when he is sentenced on the single theft charge in July. At that time, prosecutors will dismiss five counts of bank fraud, each of which also carried a possible five-year prison sentence.
E-mail: awelling@desnews.com
Comments
- Photos: New Peruvian consul 10:34 p.m.
- Death penalty possible in slayings 10:32 p.m.
- Highland may pay for burned home 10:31 p.m.
- Workers Comp may have to pay $15M 10:30 p.m.
- British military ends its UFO hotline 10:28 p.m.
- Obama: Plans will increase hiring 10:11 p.m.
- Battle goes to PG's Hamson 10:04 p.m.
- Murder case starts for juvenile 10:03 p.m.
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony 10:03 p.m.
- Higher school math requirements? 10:01 p.m.
- Mr. Football 2009: Tuni Kanuch
- Ed Smart 'appalled' at testimony
- 5A high school football All-State
- Miller predicted Tiger's rough road
- Utah Jazz going green with unis
- 4A high school football: All-State
- Harpring's NBA career is over
- Nutty Putty Cave to be sealed today
- MVPs wrap up stellar prep careers
- Jazz: Miles, Kirilenko to play Friday
- Hall reprimanded by MWC
409 - Why is Y. ignoring spew of hatred?
293 - BYU says Hall incident resolved
247 - Letters: Liberal because LDS
236 - 2 citations issued at Y.-U. game
189 - Hate not limited to 1 in-state rivalry
184 - Aggies shoot past Cougars
179 - Religion in politics is tiresome
159 - N.Y. Senate rejects gay marriage
118 - Max Hall: a fixture in rivalry lore
117
Trolley Square's annual Holiday Open House will feature visits with...
That does it — I'm having an affair! Thanks to Tiger Woods, David...
First, a big thank you to all who posted questions here for me to ask...
The US outspends every other OECD nation per pupil in education and still...
Proud of my Duchesne Eagles this year. As for the comment from Anonymous! Our...
Yes, Beck is extreme. And his popularity is only catching fire because of how...
because of his coach Keith Chatelain. He helped mold Tuni into the monster...
Morality cannot be legislated... but justice can be.
What a great story and what a great example this man and his family are. I...
Really over the top to have a photo to Brady however, the deflection tactic...
Home base (common sense an principle centered thought) only seems an extreme...
Everyone knows that churches don't have to marry anyone NOW that they don't...
I am repulsed by both Beck and the know-it-all BYU profs. This from a mature...



You can be the first to comment on this story.