Big Horn County appoints Assistant Attorney General Andrew R. Butler as special deputy for elder-exploitation sentencing

The Big Horn County Board of County Commissioners voted Jan. 2, 2026 to appoint Assistant Attorney General Andrew R. Butler as a special deputy county attorney to assist in the sentencing phase of an elder-exploitation criminal case (Big Horn County Sheriff’s Office Case 20-01425, State v. Blair).

Commissioner Larry Vandersloot moved to approve the resolution; Commissioner George Real Bird III seconded the motion and it passed unanimously. The resolution cites Mont. Code Ann. § 2-15-501(6) to authorize the appointment and identifies Butler as an Elder Justice Prosecutor and an Assistant Attorney General licensed in Montana.

The resolution states that the Elder Justice Prosecutor will charge no legal fees for attorney time provided under the appointment. It also notes that investigation expenses, witness and expert fees, jury costs and other ordinary trial costs remain the responsibility of Big Horn County. For the sentencing hearing and any pre-sentencing matters, the Elder Justice Prosecutor and the county will separately arrange payment for reasonable travel, meals, lodging and incidental expenses.

The resolution in the record references a prior prosecutor on the case, Mike Fanning, who retired; the appointment is recorded as effective immediately. The minutes do not include any public comment about the case and do not describe further scheduling or next-court dates.