10th circuit Federal court judges have denied Andrew Yellowbear's request to become a “friend of the court” in a case about the Environmental Protection Agency’s decision that the city of Riverton falls inside reservation boundaries. Yellowbear was convicted by a state court in the 2004 murder of his infant daughter. He argues he should have been tried in a federal court since, according to the EPA, Riverton is part of the reservation.
Northern Arapaho Councilman Darryl O’Neal says Yellowbear's testimony would add nothing new or unique to the decision of the court about whether the reservation should be granted as a sovereign or given Treatment as State status.
“Andrew Yellowbear’s guilt and legal issues and appeals were decided long ago,” he says. “It’s over and done. Combining this case with TAS does not serve the interests of the tribe.”
O’Neal says that although the city of Riverton and Fremont County disagree on the boundary dispute, they both agree that Yellowbear’s case is settled.
