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Thursday, July 31, 2003

A federal judge in Montana held a hearing on a motion by ex-Crow chairman Clifford Bird in Ground to withdraw his guilty plea on charges of corruption.

Bird in Ground's new attorney filed the motion because she says Bird in Ground did not understand what his guilty plea meant. Bird in Ground does not understand English and can barely read English, the attorney says.

The proceeding was translated in Crow for Bird in Ground, The Billings Gazette reported. His former attorney testified that she felt he understood the earlier proceedings. Bird In Ground has "moderate to severe" hearing loss but did not use a hearing aid during previous court appearances, the paper also reported.

Bird in Ground, 67, pleaded guilty to accepting money as part of a car buying scheme. Non-Indians were also indicted but their cases got thrown out of court for lack of evidence.

Get the Story:
Ex-chairman of Crow seeks plea retraction (The Billings Gazette 7/31)

Related Stories:
Ex-Crow chairman files motion to withdraw guilty plea (05/14)
Ex-Crow chairman can barely read, attorney says (04/11)
Brother of ex-Crow chairman given probation (02/06)
Dismissal in Crow Tribe theft case (11/14)
Guilty plea in tribal theft case (11/13)
Former Crow chairman pleads guilty (10/07)
New indictments in Crow Nation scandal (9/18)
Ex-Crow chairman 'mental' state relevant (9/13)
Crow chairman resigns from post (9/10)
Crow chairman can't handle funds (5/14)
Crow chairman pleads innocent (5/13)
Crow chairman indicted (5/6)

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