STEVENS COUNTY, Wash. — A man has been sentenced to 70 months in federal prison on multiple assault charges stemming from an incident in Stevens County in 2023.
According to court documents, the Spokane Tribal Police Department was called to a home in Ford, Washington, for a reported domestic assault. Court documents said the victim told police 40-year-old Marvin Samson Butterfly assaulted her.
Court documents said Butterfly was upset with the victim because she let another woman stay at her home. Court documents said Butterfly took out a knife and stabbed the floor, doors and furniture, later assaulting the victim and holding a knife against her throat. Butterfly also pushed the victim and tried to suffocate her.
Police found Butterfly the next morning in the victim's car.
“Terrifying is the word that best describes the ordeal Mr. Butterfly inflicted upon the victim in this case.” said Richard A. Collodi, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Seattle field office. “I’m thankful the victim was courageous and advocated for herself to help put Mr. Butterfly in custody where he belongs. Curbing violent crime on our state’s reservations remains a priority for the FBI and our partners here in Washington.”
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office Eastern District of Washington, Butterfly has been sentenced to 70 months in prison for assault with a dangerous weapon in Indian Country, assault of an intimate partner and dating partner by suffocating and attempting to suffocate in Indian Country and attempted witness tampering. The judge also imposed three years of federal supervision after Butterfly is released from prison.
The attorney's office said the 70 months on each county will be served concurrently.
