A man whose actions were called "evil" by a federal judge was sentenced to life in prison for 2003 beating deaths of two women on the Crow Reservation in Montana.

Eugene R. Rising Sun, 27, pleaded guilty to two counts of second-degree murder. He admitted he killed LaFonda Big Leggins, 23, and Koren Diebert, 26, in November 2003.

Judge Richard Cebull originally sentenced Rising Sun to two consecutive life terms in prison but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals vacated, citing errors in the sentencing enhancement. Cebull imposed only one sentence this time around, though he had harsh words for the defendant.

"This case is a case all by itself," the judge said, The Billings Gazette reported. "It is beyond anything the FBI agent and those of us involved in the case have ever seen."

Cebull ordered the sentence to run consecutive with a 71-month sentence Rising Sun is already serving on drug charges.

Get the Story:
Crow Agency man again sentenced to life for double murder (The Billings Gazette 10/16)

9th Circuit Opinion:
US v. Rising Sun (April 14, 2008)

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