Billings, Montana – In a significant development in a case that began last March, Mary Ann Whitecrane, a 58-year-old Billings woman, has pleaded guilty to attempted deliberate homicide. This plea comes after a tense standoff last year that resulted in the shooting of a Billings police officer.
Whitecrane’s plea was part of an agreement reached with prosecutors in Yellowstone County District Court. The plea agreement involves a recommendation that could potentially keep Whitecrane out of state prison. Under the terms of this deal, prosecutors will suggest a sentence of 40 years, with an additional 10 years for the use of a firearm during the commission of the crime. Crucially, if recommended based on a mental health evaluation, Whitecrane could serve her sentence in a state mental health facility instead of a traditional prison.
Furthermore, the agreement includes the dismissal of four counts of assault with a weapon and felony counts of criminal mischief and criminal endangerment at the time of sentencing.
The incident that led to Whitecrane’s arrest unfolded over 14 hours, starting when officers responded to a weapons complaint at a residence on Birch Lane. Efforts to contact Whitecrane were unsuccessful, leading to the activation of the department’s SWAT team. It was reported that Whitecrane was armed with a shotgun and had previously expressed to neighbors that she sleeps with the weapon on her bed.
The situation escalated when Det. Michael Yarina and other SWAT officers attempted to deliver a “throw phone” into the residence to establish communication with Whitecrane. During this attempt, Yarina, a 13-year veteran of the Billings Police Department, was shot. The bullet penetrated a ballistic shield and struck him just below his body armor in the lower abdomen.
This case has been a point of significant concern in the Billings community, highlighting issues of mental health, police safety, and the complexities of law enforcement in crisis situations. The sentencing, which is yet to be scheduled, will bring some resolution to this harrowing incident.
