BISMARCK - U.S. Attorney Timothy Q. Purdon announced that on April 2, 2013, Paul A. Bonilla, 40, Riverside, Calif., was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland on a charge of theft within Indian country. Bonilla pleaded guilty to the charge on Dec. 18, 2012.
Judge Hovland sentenced Bonilla to one year in federal prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release. Bonilla was ordered to pay a $100 special assessment to the Crime Victim’s Fund.
On Nov. 6, 2012, on Main Street in New Town, Bonilla entered a vehicle without permission and drove away. In the back seat of the vehicle was a 2-year-old child, who was asleep. The owner of the vehicle had gone into Better B’s Restaurant in New Town to pick up an order of food. The vehicle was located in the parking lot of the Four Bears Casino, and the child was still asleep in the back seat. Bonilla was found inside the casino playing slot machines and was arrested.
The case was investigated by Bureau of Indian Affairs - Fort Berthold Agency.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Rick Volk prosecuted the case.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
