Tim Leeds Havre Daily News tleeds@havredailynews.com
Wallace John Bear of Fort Belknap, 26, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Great Falls Tuesday to a charge of second degree murder, the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Montana said in a press release. Bear, who remained in custody, faces a sentence up to life in prison when he is sentenced Jan. 8, the release said. The release said the government was prepared to prove in trial that Joseph DuBois died of injuries sustained Feb. 21 when Bear stabbed him several times in the chest. According to the release, Bear and the victim were with a group of people drinking alcohol in a home located on the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. At one point, DuBois and Bear’s brother began to fight but were stopped and separated by others in the residence, the release said. From that point on, DuBois was no danger to Bear, his brother or anyone else At the party, the release said. Later, after Bear’s brother showed him the injuries he sustained in the fight, Bear looked at DuBois, who was standing nearby, pulled out a knife and stabbed the victim several times in the chest, the release said. Bear and several others then left the residence and walked to another. During that time witnesses saw Bear wrap the knife in a handkerchief and put it in his pants pocket, and later fell behind the group as they walked, the release said. The knife was not recovered by investigators. According to the release, Bear and the others with him arrived at the other residence and later fell asleep there. He was apprehended and arrested at that residence, the release said. The investigation was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigations.
