Poplar man sentenced in beating death

GREAT FALLS – A Poplar man was sentenced today to six years and eight months in prison and to three years of supervised release after he admitted beating to death a man during a quarrel in July 2017, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said today.

Errol Wayne Longee, 35, pleaded guilty in November to voluntary manslaughter for the July 1, 2017 death of a man at a Poplar residence on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation.

U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided. Judge Morris also ordered $2,816 restitution.

Prosecutors said Longee and the victim had been hanging out and drinking in the backyard of the residence when another individual arrived. That individual made accusations against the victim and starting punching the victim in the face. Longee then started assaulting the victim, kicking the victim in the face and stomping on his head. Longee left the scene and later told a relative that he thought he had killed the victim. When interviewed by law enforcement, Longee admitted to hitting and kicking the victim multiple times.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Dake prosecuted the case, which was investigated by the FBI and Ft. Peck Tribal Department of Law and Justice.