Montano gets life in murder case

A 34-year-old Bayfield man who was found guilty of murder and attempted murder last month was sentenced to life in prison Monday in Sixth District Carlton County Court.

In January, a jury found James Francis Montano guilty on all three of the charges against him: first-degree premeditated murder and intentional second-degree murder for the shooting death of his uncle, Andrew Gokee; and the attempted premeditated first-degree murder of his cousin, Hudson Gauthier.

Judge Leslie Beiers sentenced Montano to life in prison for Gokee’s murder, plus another 15 years for the attempted murder of Gauthier.

Gokee grew up on the Red Cliff Reservation in Wisconsin, and dedicated much of his life to learning and teaching the Ojibwe language. According to his obituary, he started the Red Cliff language camp many years ago, and worked at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point as senior outreach specialist and eventually director of the Native American Center, retiring in 2017. In March 2018, he joined Nagaajiwanaang Genawendangig Anishinaabemowin, referring to those who are saving the language.

Defense attorney Joanna Wiegert said for Montano there will be an automatic “appeal of right” that is handled by a state public defenders division.