GREAT FALLS — This is an official press release from the U.S. Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)), published as received.
GREAT FALLS – A Box Elder man accused of stabbing another man on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation admitted to charges today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.
The defendant, Trent Justin Taylor, 24, pleaded guilty to one count of involuntary manslaughter, which carries a penalty of eight years of imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three 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 July 16, 2026. Taylor was detained pending further proceedings.
The government alleged in court documents that on the evening of December 27, 2025, John Doe and his family planned to leave their house while Taylor and others stayed behind. While Doe was in the process of departing, an altercation ensued between Taylor and his girlfriend. Taylor became agitated and punched a hole in the wall, then declared he was going to kill himself. Doe told Taylor he would not allow Taylor to do that and followed Taylor into the kitchen.
Taylor grabbed a kitchen knife and pointed it at his chest. Doe tried unsuccessfully to wrestle the knife away from him. While Doe and Taylor fought for control over the knife, Doe suffered a stab wound to his chest. According to a witness, both Doe’s hands and Taylor’s hands were on the handle of the knife when the stabbing occurred. Witnesses at the scene immediately attempted to perform life-saving measures, but Doe was pronounced dead at the Northern Montana Hospital. An autopsy confirmed Doe died as a result of the stab wound to his chest.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted the case. The FBI and Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.
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