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Lame Deer man sentenced for strangling woman

Russell pleaded guilty to the charge in August
Posted at 10:00 AM, Jan 11, 2020
and last updated 2020-01-12 16:11:36-05

BILLINGS — A Lame Deer man was sentenced Friday in a Billings courtroom to two-and-a-half years in federal prison.

The man admitted strangling a woman in the spring of 2019 on the Northern Cheyenne reservation.

Cameron Lee Russell Sr., 43, pleaded guilty to the strangulation charge in August, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said in a news release.

He was also sentenced to three years supervised release.

Prosecutors stated in court records that Russell and the woman were arguing in a bedroom on March 13, 2019.

The woman pretended to throw a baby bottle at Russell, and he rushed at her, got on top and began to strangle her with both hands, according to prosecutors.

Russell eventually stopped when a child entered the room, but the victim could not breathe or escape, prosecutors said. She sent children to call police.

U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided.