Cut Bank man sentenced to more than five years in prison for assaulting, shooting woman on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS - A Cut Bank man was sentenced today to five years and nine months in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for assaulting and then shooting and wounding a woman at a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich said.

The defendant, Luke Charles Wells, 33, pleaded guilty in November 2023 to assault with a dangerous weapon and to using a firearm during a crime of violence.

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

In court documents, the government alleged that on July 16, 2023, Wells was intoxicated at a residence on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, when he became angry at the victim, identified as Jane Doe. Doe was in a bathroom when Wells broke down the door and began assaulting her. Doe ran outside to escape. Wells chased her and pulled out a pistol. Doe tripped and fell, and Wells started shooting at the ground around her. Wells then hit Doe in the head with the gun several times before shooting and wounding her in the chest. Doe was transported to the hospital. Wells, disobeying officers' commands and while armed, fled multiple law enforcement agencies in a vehicle pursuit before being tased and arrested.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah A. Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services, Cut Bank Police Department and Glacier County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

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