Poplar man sentenced to more than 15 years in prison for murder

GREAT FALLS - A Poplar man convicted of murder and using a firearm in the commission of the murder was sentenced to 186 months in prison and five years of supervised release Wednesday, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Michael J. Ackerman, 74, pleaded guilty in January 2026 to one count of second-degree murder and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence.

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

The government alleged in court documents that early in the morning on Sept. 14, 2025, Yellowstone County Sheriff's deputies in Billings received a call and were told Ackerman had admitted to killing three people - Jane Doe 1, John Doe and Jane Doe 2. Deputies then tried to contact Ackerman inside the house in Billings.

After deputies read Ackerman his Miranda rights, he agreed to speak with law enforcement. He said on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, he was in his home in Poplar and he and the rest of the people in the house were using methamphetamine. Ackerman believed Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2 were "setting him up." Ackerman said he was in the bedroom with Jane Doe 1, and Jane Doe 1 had a pistol in her hand. In response, Ackerman picked up his Smith and Wesson 9 mm pistol and shot Jane Doe 1 twice in the head. The defendant then said he heard John Doe and Jane Doe 2 moving in the next room so walked over where John Doe and Jane Doe 2 were sleeping and shot them both. Ackerman told deputies they would find the deceased inside his house in Poplar.

Yellowstone County contacted Fort Peck Law and Justice Department officers, who went to the Poplar residence and received no response. They were granted a telephonic search warrant from the Fort Peck Tribal Court and went inside the house at around 5:30 a.m. Inside they found the dead bodies mentioned by Ackerman - Jane Doe 1, John Doe, and Jane Doe 2. All three had gunshot wounds and four 9 mm casings were close to the bodies.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The FBI, Fort Peck Tribes Department of Law and Justice and Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

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