Eastlick pleads not guilty to embezzlement

The last of six defendants accused of embezzling federal money from a tribal water project that would serve 30,000 people across north-central Montana has been arraigned in federal court.

James Howard Eastlick of Laurel, 69, pleaded not guilty in federal court in Great Falls to 17 felony charges including theft of federal money and money laundering.

Five others charged in the case, including Chippewa Cree Business Committee member and former tribal council chair John "Chance" Houle, 47, and 41-year-old former state Rep. Tony Belcourt, D-Box Elder, the CEO of the tribally owned Chippewa Cree Co...