Box Elder Repeat Offender Gets 32 Months for Gun Possession on Rocky Boy’s Reservation

BOX ELDER — A repeat federal offender was sentenced to 32 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, adding another case to the ongoing challenges of recidivism in Indian Country prosecutions.

Franklin Troy Caplette, 40, of Box Elder, received the sentence last Thursday in Great Falls Federal District Court after pleading guilty in March to prohibited person in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided over the sentencing.

The case highlights the persistent problem of repeat federal offenders in tribal jurisdictions, where Caplette’s extensive criminal history includes two prior methamphetamine distribution convictions and five separate supervised release violations.

Arrest During Supervised Release Violation

Caplette was arrested on Oct. 12, 2024, while violating his federal supervised release terms. Court documents show he possessed a 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a chest holster during the arrest.

“Because he attempted to run from law enforcement prior to his arrest, a responding officer had to discharge his taser twice before Caplette was arrested,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The arrest involved multiple law enforcement agencies working together on the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation, including the Hill County Sheriff’s Office, Chippewa Cree Law Enforcement Services, U.S. Probation Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Pattern of Federal Violations

Caplette’s criminal history reveals a troubling pattern of federal drug offenses and supervision violations that spans more than a decade.

In June 2013, he was sentenced to 62 months in federal prison followed by four years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. His supervised release was revoked five times in that case alone.

“His supervised release was revoked five times in that case,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

More recently, in February 2021, Caplette received another federal sentence of 42 months imprisonment followed by three years of supervised release for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine in a separate case.

Multi-Agency Enforcement Initiative

The prosecution was part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a federal program bringing together law enforcement agencies and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme announced the sentencing, noting the collaborative effort between federal, tribal, and local law enforcement agencies operating on the reservation.

The Department of Justice launched a strengthened version of Project Safe Neighborhoods in May 2021, focusing on fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention organizations, and setting strategic enforcement priorities.

Caplette will serve three years of supervised release following his 32-month prison sentence. The case continues the pattern of federal prosecutions in Indian Country documented in ongoing coverage of tribal jurisdiction crimes across Montana.