County Attorney Dismisses Nine Felony Cases Connected to Bingo Game

BOZEMAN  –  On April 18, 2025 the Bozeman Police Department held a press conference regarding an internal inquiry that involved two teams of patrol officers who engaged in a bingo competition while on duty. In addition to the twenty-four cases referred to the City Attorney’s office, eleven cases submitted to the County Attorney’s office for prosecution involved cases investigated during the bingo game. Of the eleven cases, two were juvenile misdemeanors subsequently referred to the state youth court, and nine were felonies. Of the nine, eight cases were felony drug cases, and one was a Partner Family Member Assault, 3rd or greater offense.

At the time the County Attorney’s office was notified of the incident, four of the felony cases had already been filed and were pending in the District Court, and five were still under review with the County Attorney’s office to determine whether charges should be filed. 

Under Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States decisions, prosecutors are required to disclose to the defense, in a timely manner, any evidence that is favorable to the accused and material to guilt or punishment. This is not a discretionary process—it is a constitutional mandate designed to ensure fairness in our justice system. 

An independent report conducted by an external prosecutor found no evidence indicating the game had any material effect on arrests, yet it did conclude that the bingo game scenario represented potential Brady v. Maryland and Giglio v. United States material that must be disclosed, at a minimum, to the Court for in camerareview (meaning in chambers, not in open court).

The Gallatin County Attorney’s office filed Ex Parte Motions asking the Court to review affected cases in camera and to make a decision about what information should be released to defense counsel. Two judges denied the County Attorney’s motion, returning it to the County Attorney to make her own determination about what information should be released to the defense in each case. After thorough review of all investigatory materials, County Attorney Cromwell dismissed the four pending cases and declined to prosecute the remaining five. Once a case is dismissed by the Court, all hearings are vacated, bond is exonerated, and the case is closed. 

“The decision for each case was a tough call—stakes for felonies are high with serious consequences,” states County Attorney Audrey Cromwell. “As the County Attorney I have a unique responsibility on the law enforcement continuum: to uphold the rights of all involved—the victims, the accused, and the community—and to ensure that the prosecutions we bring are effective, fair, and constitutionally sound.”