Big Sky Times

A federal jury has convicted a Browning man of sexually abusing two children on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation 20 years ago, NBC Montana reported.

Michael James Burke, 43, was found guilty of two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child and sexual contact after a two-day trial, the station reported. He now faces a maximum of life in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

“I am pleased the jury held Burke accountable for repeatedly sexually abusing two young girls over an extended period of time," U.S. Attorney of Montana Jesse Laslovich said. "Our office is determined to protect children from sexual predators and will aggressively prosecute those who harm them. I thank our prosecution team, the FBI, and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services for their diligent work on this case."

In court documents and at trial, the government alleged that Burke committed numerous sexual acts against victims Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 over an extended period of time in Browning on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation, NBC Montana reported.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris, who presided over Burke's trial, set sentencing for March 9, 2023, the U.S. Justice Department said.

"The court will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors," the department said, according to NBC Montana. "Burke was detained pending further proceedings."

Burke sexually abused Jane Doe 1 between 2000 and 2003 and Jane Doe 2 between 1999 and 2002, the station said. Both victims were under the age of 12 at the time. The victims ultimately disclosed the sexual abuse to officials in 2017. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services investigated the case, while the U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecuted it, the station reported.