Federal Court Arraignments For June 30, 2023

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that the following persons were arraigned or appeared this week before U.S. Magistrate judges on indictments handed down by the Grand Jury or on criminal complaints. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt:

Appearing in Billings before U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan and pleading not guilty on June 29 was:

Joshua James Groh, 41, of Billings, and Gary Michael Byrd, 52, of Billings, on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute meth. If convicted of the most serious crime, Groh and Byrd face a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life in prison, a $10 million fine and at least five years of supervised release. Groh and Byrd were detained pending further proceedings. The Billings Police Department and Drug Enforcement Administration investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-74.

Appearing in Missoula before U.S. Magistrate Judge Kathleen L. DeSoto and pleading not guilty on June 29 was:

Matthew Cory Glen Robocker, 27, of Shelby, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Robocker faces a maximum of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Robocker was detained pending further proceedings. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Toole County Sheriff’s Office, Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 21-48.

Heath Lynn Schmoeckel, 42, of Missoula, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Schmoeckel faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Schmoeckel was detained pending further proceedings. The Montana Highway Patrol, Missoula County Sheriff’s Office, Missoula Police Department and Montana Probation and Parole investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-22.

Appearing in Great Falls before U.S. Magistrate Judge John T. Johnston and pleading not guilty on June 27 was:

James Cleveland Manywhitehorses, 42, of Browning, on charges of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Manywhitehorses faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Manywhitehorses was detained pending further proceedings. The FBI, Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case. PACER case reference.23-55.

Bradley Bear Standing Rock, 26, of Havre, on charges of sexual assault, a misdemeanor. If convicted of the most serious crime, Standing Rock faces a maximum of six months imprisonment and a $500 fine. Standing Rock was released pending further proceedings. The FBI investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-59.

Jacqueline Rose Hydock, 33, of Great Falls, on charges of possession of stolen mail and wire fraud. If convicted of the most serious crime, Hydock faces maximum of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. Hydock was released pending further proceedings. The U.S. Postal Service, Cascade County Sheriff’s Office and Great Falls Police Department investigated the case. PACER case reference. 23-54.

The progress of cases may be monitored through the U.S. District Court Calendar and the PACER system. To establish a PACER account, which provides electronic access to review documents filed in a case, please visit http://www.pacer.gov/register.html. To access the District Court’s calendar, please visit https://ecf.mtd.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/PublicCalendar.pl.