Man accuses prison of rights infringement
courtesy photo
Darrin Matt
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MISSOULA – A Lake County man filed a federal court case June 12, alleging his rights to practice Native American cultural beliefs were violated while he was enrolled in a state prison program in Anaconda.
Darrin Matt, 37, in a self-written complaint, claimed prison officials refused to let him “smudge” and fast on Feb. 22 and March 2. Matt said he is a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.
“Whereas the facility is for addicts to change their addiction lifestyle,” Matt wrote. “Nevertheless, the plaintiff was once again denied of his Indian heritage culture religion beliefs.”
Matt said his requests to “smudge” fell on deaf ears and gave him significant psychological distress. Matt alleged he was re-victimized from previous experiences in the state’s juvenile justice system.
Matt has requested a jury trial in the matter.
In March Matt filed a separate federal case that claimed he was not notified of a hearing held in Lake County District Court that sent him back to jail. The case is ongoing.
Judge C.B. McNeil revoked Matt’s suspended sentence in 2012 for probation violations. In 2007, Matt pleaded guilty to felony assault with a weapon. He was sentenced to the Department of Corrections for seven years, two suspended.
According to court documents, Matt violated his probation by changing his residence without notifying his probation officer, failing to seek and maintain employment, testing positive for marijuana, methamphetamine and alcohol use, being arrested for reckless driving and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and failing to attend court-ordered chemical dependency counseling.
Matt is housed in the Dawson County Correctional Facility in Glendive.
