Stanley pleads not guilty to manslaughter from July crash

Stanley pleads not guilty to manslaughter from July crash

Tim Leeds

A Havre man has pleaded not guilty in federal court to four charges stemming from the death of Crystal Russette in an automobile accident on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation on July 22.

Nathan Charles Stanley, 29, entered his pleas in court in Great Falls Tuesday.

Stanley is charged with three counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury as well as the manslaughter charge. He is in custody, and Magistrate Keith Strong, who presided over the arraignment hearing, scheduled a detention hearing for Thursday.

Stanley was indicted Feb. 17 and charged that his driving under the influence was the direct cause of the death of Russette.

A representative of the U. S. Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the case because the crash occurred within the reservation boundaries, said further information could not be released.

The accident occurred when an eastbound pickup truck crossed the center line. A westbound pickup drove into the eastbound lane in an attempt to avoid the collision before being struck.

A Havre man has pleaded not guilty in federal court to four charges stemming from the death of Crystal Russette in an automobile accident on the Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation on July 22.

Nathan Charles Stanley, 29, entered his pleas in court in Great Falls Tuesday.

Stanley is charged with three counts of assault resulting in serious bodily injury as well as the manslaughter charge. He is in custody, and Magistrate Keith Strong, who presided over the arraignment hearing, scheduled a detention hearing for Thursday.

Stanley was indicted Feb. 17 and charged that his driving under the influence was the direct cause of the death of Russette.

A representative of the U. S. Attorney's Office, which is prosecuting the case because the crash occurred within the reservation boundaries, said further information could not be released.

The accident occurred when an eastbound pickup truck crossed the center line. A westbound pickup drove into the eastbound lane in an attempt to avoid the collision before being struck.