Fort Belknap Indian Reservation School Employee Arraigned on Witness Tampering, Child Abuse Reporting Charges

GREAT FALLS – A school employee in Hays, a community within the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation near the reservation’s southern end, is facing federal charges for allegedly failing to fulfill her mandatory reporting duties and attempting to intimidate witnesses in child abuse cases.

Chantel Lee King, 56, pleaded not guilty this week to a superseding indictment containing two counts of attempted obstructing justice by witness tampering and two counts of failure to report child abuse, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.

According to the charges, King was employed as a school employee in a position that placed her under strict federal mandatory reporting requirements for suspected child abuse.

If convicted on the most serious charges, King faces up to 20 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release. U.S. Magistrate Judge John Johnston presided over the arraignment, and King was released on conditions pending further proceedings.

Educator’s Alleged Breach of Trust

The charges paint a picture of an educator who prosecutors allege not only failed to protect vulnerable children but actively worked to prevent others from reporting suspected abuse to authorities.

The superseding indictment alleges King engaged in witness tampering on two separate occasions in 2020, both times attempting to prevent communication with law enforcement about federal offenses including aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse, and abusive sexual contact in Indian Country.

According to prosecutors, the first incident occurred in September 2020, when King allegedly attempted to intimidate and corruptly persuade another person to prevent them from reporting information to law enforcement about potential federal crimes.

Mandatory Reporting Failures

As a school employee, King had legal obligations to immediately report suspected child abuse—duties that prosecutors say she failed to fulfill on two separate occasions.

In September 2020, prosecutors allege King knew or had reasonable suspicion that one victim had been abused in Indian Country but failed to immediately report the suspected abuse to local child protective services or law enforcement, as required by federal law.

A similar failure to report allegation stems from October 2020, involving a second victim. That same month, King allegedly engaged in a second act of witness tampering, again attempting to prevent communication with federal authorities about potential sexual abuse crimes.

The allegations suggest a pattern where King not only failed in her duty to protect children but actively worked to prevent others from fulfilling their reporting obligations. The charges fall under federal jurisdiction because they involve allegations of abuse in Indian Country.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kalah Paisley is prosecuting the case, which was investigated by the FBI.

The case is being tracked under PACER reference 25-38. As with all criminal cases, the charges are merely accusations and King is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.