Hays man sentenced to a year in prison for assaulting women

GREAT FALLS - A Hays man convicted of assaulting two women on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation was sentenced to prison today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Lane Blake Kirkaldie, 21, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault. For the assault with a dangerous weapon charge, Kirkaldie will serve 12 months a one day in prison; for the simple assault, he'll serve six months. The two sentences will run concurrent.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2025, Kirkaldie and a group of people were gathered at a house on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation to celebrate New Year's. At some point in the night, according to witnesses, Kirkaldie got into an altercation with Jane Doe 2, with whom he was in a romantic relationship. Kirkaldie was told to leave; Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 left the house with him.

The trio walked to a business in Lodge Pole where Kirkaldie was captured on surveillance video throwing things and then lunging toward Jane Doe 2. The video also shows him making threatening comments while holding a glass bottle. A second surveillance video from inside the business shows both Jane Does leave the building, with Kirkaldie trailing them outside. He tried to approach Jane Doe 2 and Jane Doe 1 put herself between them. She held Kirkaldie back as Jane Doe 2 returned inside. Kirkaldie then pushed Jane Doe 1 away and struck her in the head with the glass bottle, which cut her head deeply enough to require stitches.

A third surveillance video captures the three back inside the building. Both women are crying and Kirkaldie can be heard making more threatening comments. He then appears either to strike or attempt to strike Jane Doe 2 in the face.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Fort Belknap Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.

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