A Box Elder man has been sentenced to five years and seven months in prison for assaulting a woman with a knife on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation. The sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release, as announced by U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich.
Colten Tyrone Small, also known as Colton Swan, 22, pleaded guilty in September 2024 to charges of assault with a dangerous weapon and assault resulting in serious bodily injury. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the case.
Court documents revealed that on May 3, 2023, during an argument at a residence in Box Elder on the Rocky Boy’s Reservation, Small punched the victim, identified as Jane Doe, while holding a butcher knife. A witness reported that Small sliced Doe's face during the altercation. Following this incident, the witness physically confronted Small. It was noted that fentanyl and alcohol were involved at the time of the incident. Jane Doe received treatment for her facial injuries at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre.
The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with investigations conducted by the FBI and Rocky Boy’s Law Enforcement.