Browning man sentenced to 30 months in prison for sexual abuse of minor

GREAT FALLS — A Browning man was sentenced Monday to 30 months in prison followed by five years of supervised release for sexually abusing a 12-year-old child, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced.

Delbert Dwayne Mowitch, 23, pleaded guilty in January to one count of sexual abuse of a minor. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing.

Court documents reveal that Mowitch met the victim, identified as Jane Doe, in January 2024. The relationship came to light in April 2024 when a witness reported to law enforcement that Mowitch and the child were involved in a sexual relationship.

During interviews with law enforcement, the victim confirmed she had stayed at Mowitch’s house and that they consumed alcohol and smoked marijuana together. She reported that Mowitch sexually assaulted her on two occasions.

The victim described the first assault, saying Mowitch was intoxicated when he removed her clothing. “She just froze,” according to court documents, as Mowitch penetrated her despite her describing the experience as extremely painful.

During a second encounter, the victim told investigators she explicitly told Mowitch “no” when he asked for sex. She reported blacking out and waking up in pain with cramps, discovering a used condom she believed had been used on her. Court documents state that Mowitch showed her a video from that night, claiming it depicted her consenting to sexual activity.

The victim provided law enforcement with screenshots of messages between her and Mowitch that were “consistent with an ongoing relationship,” according to court filings.

A second witness corroborated the allegations, telling investigators that Mowitch admitted in February 2024 to having sexual intercourse with the child. The witness reported that Mowitch was aware of the victim’s age when their relationship began.

The Mowitch sentence comes on the heels of another Blackfeet Reservation resident who received a significantly harsher federal sentence for similar crimes. On Sunday, Darrell Eugene Guardipee was sentenced to 272 months in prison for sexual abuse of minors involving multiple victims over several years. The contrast between the two cases illustrates how federal courts weigh factors such as the number of victims, duration of abuse, and patterns of behavior when determining sentences for crimes against children on tribal lands.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley prosecuted the case. The FBI and Blackfeet Law Enforcement Services conducted the investigation.

The case falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal program that brings together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and enhance neighborhood safety. The Department of Justice launched an enhanced violent crime reduction strategy in May 2021, focusing on building community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring results.

Mowitch will serve his prison sentence in federal custody before beginning the five-year supervised release period. The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal and tribal law enforcement to protect children from sexual exploitation on Montana’s reservations.