Hays man pleads guilty to assault on Fort Belknap Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS - A Hays man accused of assaulting two females on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

The defendant, Lane Blake Kirkaldie, 21, pleaded guilty to one count of assault with a dangerous weapon and one count of simple assault. Kirkaldie faces a term of imprisonment of ten years, a $250,000 fine, and 3 years of supervised release.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided and will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors. Sentencing was set for May 28, 2026. Kirkaldie was released with conditions pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents that in the early hours of January 1, 2025, Kirkaldie and a group of people attended a gathering at a house on the Fort Belknap Indian

Reservation. According to witnesses, there was an altercation that resulted in Kirkaldie being told to leave the house. Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 left the house with him. The trio walked to a business in Lodge Pole, which is equipped with surveillance cameras. In one of the surveillance videos, Kirkaldie can be seen throwing things before lunging toward Jane Doe 2. The video also shows him making threatening comments while holding a glass bottle.

A different surveillance video 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. After he pushed her away, Kirkaldie struck Jane Doe 1 in the head with the glass bottle, which cut her head badly enough to require stitches.

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

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