Inmate receives prison time for biting jail guard, smuggling drugs

A former Lake County Jail inmate received a five-year prison sentence for assaulting a detention officer while attempting to conceal a package of drugs. 

A former Lake County inmate charged with of biting a detention officer while attempting to smuggle drugs into jail was sentenced last week to five years in Montana State Prison. 

Michael Anthony Assiniboine, whose name and address are unlisted in court documents, received the sentenced on Sept. 21 from Lake County District Court Judge James A. Manley. 

According to an affidavit, on July 8, Assiniboine, who was incarcerated on burglary charges, was transported to St. Ignatius by detention officers for his father’s funeral. After the ceremony was completed, officers noticed Assiniboine was holding an object in his hand, the affidavit states. Officers attempted to confiscate the item and a scuffle ensued. Assiniboine attempted to swallow the object, and bit the fingers of officers when they attempted to stop him, the affidavit states. Assiniboine was tasered multiple times during the struggle and eventually threw the object onto the ground, according to the affidavit. Officers discovered the item to be a condom containing syringes, money and a tar-like substance that later tested positive for heroin. 

Assiniboine was restrained at all times during the funeral, but was allowed to hug his family members at the end of the proceedings, according to a statement from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. 

Assiniboine received a five-year sentence for assault on a peace officer and a three years sentence for criminal possession of dangerous drugs, with the punishments running concurrent with each other. 

He was also committed to the Department of Corrections for four years with all time suspended on his prior burglary charges. 

Assiniboine’s sentence stipulates he will not be eligible for parole for a period of two years.