White Bear Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter

Maynard Joseph White Bear, 67, of Fort Kipp, appeared on charges of involuntary manslaughter last week before U.S. magistrate judges on indictments handed down by a grand jury. The charging documents are merely accusations and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

According to indicting documents, White Bear allegedly drove a vehicle under the influence of alcohol on Aug. 16, 2019, at or near Fort Kipp, leading to the deaths of two individuals. The Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office told the Northern Plains Independent that the victims were Natalie Long Hair, 41, and Valerie Youpee, 50. Both women were from Fort Kipp.

A trial was set for Oct. 6 at Missouri River Federal Courthouse in Great Falls.

If convicted of the most serious crime, White Bear faces a maximum eight years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release. White Bear was released pending further proceedings.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fort Peck Criminal Investigation investigated the case.