Jury finds Browning man guilty of assault on Blackfeet Indian Reservation

GREAT FALLS - A Browning man who shot an individual on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation was found guilty by a federal jury today, Acting U.S. Attorney Tim Racicot said.

Following a one-and-a-half-day trial, Kevin James Trombley, 28, was found guilty of one count of assault resulting in serious bodily injury, one count of assault with a dangerous weapon, and one count of use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Trombley faces mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and five 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 April 23, 2026. Trombley remained detained pending further proceedings.

The government alleged in court documents and at trial that John Doe was drinking with friends and family in the late hours of March 22, 2024, and early hours of March 23. Early in the morning on March 23, Trombley and some friends entered the same residence without permission.

Once inside, a fight ensued among Doe, Trombley, and others. After the fight caused damage, the homeowner declared everyone needed to leave, and grabbed a pellet gun to make her point.

The fight migrated outside into the driveway that abuts the house. Doe, meanwhile, stood in the driveway. According to witnesses, Doe was unarmed and had his hands up, saying something to the effect of, "What are we going to do?"

At that point, Trombley-who was seated in the driver's seat of his truck-leaned across the passenger seat-and fired a gun through the truck's window. The shot hit Doe in the abdomen, and he fell to the ground. Trombley then fled in his truck. Doe was taken to Blackfeet Community Hospital before he was transferred to Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, where he underwent surgery for injuries to his internal organs. Law enforcement spoke with several witnesses who identified Trombley as the shooter.

Law enforcement went to a residence in search of Trombley. They found him sleeping in a back bedroom, and they found a Smith & Wesson 40 caliber pistol-later confirmed to have been purchased by Trombley-between the box spring and the mattress on which he slept. When Trombley's truck was later searched, officers found a spent shell casing on the passenger side floorboard. When law enforcement interviewed Trombley, he did not deny being at the party but denied knowing how Doe was shot.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The investigation was conducted by the FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services.

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