Trial Date Set For Crow Reservation Shooting Suspect
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Billings judge has set an Oct. 5 trial date for an 18-year-old man accused of shooting a Montana family who stopped to offer him roadside assistance.
U.S. District Judge Susan Watters also gave prosecutors and Jesus Deniz, also known as Jesus Deniz Mendoza, until Sept. 25 to reach a plea agreement to avoid a trial.
Deniz is charged with murder in the deaths of a 51-year-old Jason Shane 47-year-old Tana Shane. He is charged with three counts of assault in the shooting of their daughter, 26-year-old Jorah Shane.
Investigators say the family stopped in Pryor to help a man who claimed to be having car trouble. They say Deniz of Worland, Wyoming, demanded money and opened fire after they said they had none.
Deniz has pleaded not guilty to the charges.