Four individuals suspected of killing a Wolf Point man were arraigned on murder charges in Fort Peck Tribal Court.

During a special arraignment session in Tribal Court, defendants Abrianne Deserley, Calvin Lester Jr., Dillon Wetsit, and Michael Menz were formally charged before Judge Lonnie Headdress. Representing the Tribes in the courtroom were prosecutors Adrienne Weinberger and Holly Denny. Tribal Public Defender Terry Boyd Sr. was there and told the prisoners they needed to fill out applications for assistance. The defendants were brought in wearing orange prison clothes and shackles and appeared in court electronically from the jail.

Also there were two tribal Criminal Investigators, one FBI agent, and one of the defendants family members.

All defendants pleaded not guilty to murder. Weinberger stated that the crime in the death of Gifford Standing was heinous. She mentioned the public safety concern for the community. She also stated that the defendants are flight risks. Thus, she recommended all of them be remanded into tribal custody. Judge Headdress agreed. They were remanded into custody. Their pretrial hearing is set for April 23, 2025, at 1 p.m.

The court could set a bond at this hearing. It may also impose conditions of release. This depends on whether it decides to release them at all.

Deserley, 24, and Lester, 35, were both charged with murder. Wetsit, 26, and Menz 40, were charged with complicity to murder.

According to tribal court documents, on or about February 26, 2025, at approximately 1 a.m. to 3 a.m., at 204 First Avenue South in Wolf Point, Deserley and Lester intentionally caused the death of Gifford Standing. They did this by physically assaulting him. Deserley is alleged to have repeatedly kicked and punched Gifford in the head and face. He did this while acting in concert with Lester. Lester placed Gifford in a choke-hold and also physically assaulted him, documents state.

Once Standing was back on the ground Deserley and Lester continued beating him to his death, documents allege.

It further states Wetsit and Menz were there during the intentional killing of Standing by Deserley and Lester. They knowingly neglected to report the crime to authorities. Through inaction, they are alleged to have aided the commission of the offense. They facilitated it by failing to seek help or intervene in the fatal assault.

Menz is alleged to have further desecrated Standing by urinating on the body after the fatal assault.

Standing was found the next day in the same building. Months before, another Wolf Point man died in a fire there. Stan Moran, 49, was found in the building after authorities extinguished the fire.

The death of Standing created public outcry, many people demanding the police arrest someone. Federal and tribal investigators on the case tracked down and arrested these four individuals within days of the killing.

Tribal Police thanked the community for their help in this case.