Whitford sentenced to 60 years for Pierre murder
Berl Tiskus
Whitford reads his letter regarding his actions before being sentenced to 60 years in Montana State Prison for deliberate homicide in the 2013 murder of John Pierre, Jr.
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POLSON — Judge James Manley on Wednesday sentenced Makueeyapee Whitford to the Montana State Prison for 60 years with none suspended for the 2013 stabbing death of John Pierre, Jr. of Polson.
A jury had found Whitford guilty of deliberate homicide after a weeklong trial in December 2014.
Whitford won’t be eligible for parole for 25 years.
The sentencing hearing took approximately four hours, during which time two witnesses were called to the stand, and Manley heard arguments from the state and the defense. The Court watched videos from two of Whitford’s professors at Blackfeet Community College and heard statements from the Pierre family.
Louis, Pierre’s brother, said he moved out of area because he found himself walking around town looking for his brother. He vowed to be the best uncle to his brother’s children.
“We don’t want to see this man walking around,” Louis said, looking at Whitford. “I do not ever want to see this man again.”
The victim’s uncle, Allen Pierre, was also in attendance.
“It hurts me to sit here and look at the man who took him away,” Allen said. “We’re never going to have any closure, ever.”
As far as the Salish and the Blackfeet being enemies, that was a long time ago, according to Allen.
“Some of my family members are Blackfeet,” Allen said.
Edith Enoch, John Pierre, Jr.’s grandmother, lobbied for capitol punishment.
“Montana has a death penalty,” she said. “That would be justice for me.”
John’s oldest brother Mike said he was 8 when their father, John, Sr., was killed, so he can appreciate what John’s children have to go through.
“We remember John — that smile, in that whistle, in the joy he had in his face every day,” Mike added.
Pat Pierre, John’s grandfather and an elder of the tribe, said his prayer is that justice be done, “and I pray for healing for the family … It might take a miracle to get our family stabilized again.”
Judge Manley asked Whitford if he had anything to say.
“I am afraid you will not understand the amount of sorrow and regret I have in my heart,” Whitford said, crying as he spoke. He detailed his violent early life and jail time.
Whitford then read from a letter he’d written prior to his sentencing.
“Because of my actions, Mr. John Pierre is no longer here,” Whitford read. “I never wanted to cause the death of Mr. John Pierre, Jr.”
After reading the letter, Whitford said the Lord’s Prayer in his Blackfeet language.
Last week Whitford’s attorneys Jennifer Streano and Peter Leander filed a motion for a new trial for Whitford. Judge Manley rejected the motion.
Before he read the sentence, Judge Manley said, “To the Pierre family, I read all your letters and have taken them into my heart.”
Whitford was being sentenced for the most serious crime in Montana, Manley said. He said Whitford was a significant danger to the community, “although I’m not without sympathy for your upbringing.”
