A federal jury found Seth Anthony Basler, 41, of Lame Deer guilty of assault with a dangerous weapon and attempted witness tampering on July 22 in Billings, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.
Following a three-day trial, Basler was convicted for attacking a woman with a metal bar as she and her companion walked past his house last September. The incident occurred as the women were walking their dog to pick up their children from school on Sept. 17, 2025. According to court documents and testimony, Basler yelled at the women to stay away from his dogs before charging at one with a metal bar, striking her on the head and back before punching her after she fell. The victim lost consciousness briefly during the attack but managed to crawl over to intervene when Basler began attacking her companion.
The two women eventually escaped. Shortly after the initial assault, they returned to retrieve a phone dropped during the altercation. At that time, Basler’s wife refused access to the phone; when one woman tried to recover it from the ground, Basler struck her again on the arm. Police responded and transported the injured woman to Lame Deer Clinic for treatment; Basler was arrested at that time.
While in jail, authorities said Basler called his wife multiple times, instructing her to exaggerate injuries sustained during the confrontation and falsely claim she was outside when it began. He also told his wife to say she had been attacked by one of the women so he could claim he intervened only in defense of his spouse.
Basler faces up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters presided over proceedings and will determine sentencing after considering guidelines and statutory factors; sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 24.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Yerger and Julia Patten prosecuted this case following an investigation by both FBI agents and Bureau of Indian Affairs officers, according to information from the official website. Kurt G. Alme has held senior roles within Montana’s U.S Attorney’s office—which operates out of Billings as well as Great Falls, Helena, and Missoula—and focuses on community safety through enforcement of federal laws.