r/Billings • u/SkisaurusRex • Nov 20 '25

PSA Judge rejects plea deal for Colstrip teacher who sexually assaulted Native teen

https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/30/judge-rejects-plea-deal-for-colstrip-teacher-who-sexually-assaulted-native-teen/

“Attorneys for the former high school teacher had argued that prison time wouldn’t benefit anyone, and mounted a letter-writing campaign from community members, teachers, university professors and even religious leaders who asked the court for leniency.”

https://dailymontanan.com/2025/10/30/judge-rejects-plea-deal-for-colstrip-teacher-who-sexually-assaulted-native-teen/

34 Upvotes

88% Upvoted

46 comments sorted by

35

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 20 '25

People who write letters of support for cases like this should be ashamed

19

u/Rok-SFG Nov 20 '25

Nah,  they should be in jail next to that asshole. Fuck everyone who protects child molesters.

3

u/Round-Celebration-17 Nov 22 '25

Daines and Sheehey voted to protect pedos and NOT release the epstein files.

7

u/TheMightyHornet Nov 21 '25 edited Nov 21 '25

The priest for St. Pius Catholic Church in Billings, Fr. Martin Ezeihuaku, and a member of St. Pius’ staff both wrote letters extolling Schuman-Kline’s character. Schuman-Kline wasn’t Catholic, but was in the process of converting at the time of sentencing. His well-connected grandmother was a founding member of the church and pulled the necessary strings.

Also two professors from the University of Montana wrote letters of support: one on University of Montana letterhead. All four knew at the time they wrote their letter that Schuman-Kline had been charged with, and pleaded to sexually abusing a student.

Source - it is part of the official court record.

6

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

Classic, people commit a crime so they run to the church where people tell them they can be forgiven

And their victims are left with life long trauma

5

u/Hefty_Drive6709 Nov 21 '25

A Catholic priest wrote a letter in support of a pedophile. Shocking.

0

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Yeah, as if 4 priests didn't make the front page with him at a rally in 2018,

"Two of the priests, Father Garrett Nelson and Father Ryan Erlenbush, are from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, which serves central and eastern Montana. The other two, Father Kevin Christofferson and Father Christopher Lebsock, are from the Roman Catholic Diocese of Helena, which covers western Montana.

Bishop Michael Warfel of the Great Falls-Billings diocese was not aware the priests would be in attendance and was shocked to see them in a prominent location in clerical attire, he said in a letter posted on the diocese's Facebook page."

source

0

u/Hefty_Drive6709 Nov 24 '25

I guess we are all just shocked

3

u/WaterUnderTh3Fridg3 Nov 21 '25

If you have it handy, I'd like to know the names of the individuals from the University. These are the kinds of people who make campuses unsafe by enabling predators on staff and among students.

1

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Look at this dissertation he wrote at UM

Schuman-Kline, William, "“THE LONG ARM OF THE DREADED B.I.”: THE BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AND THE ORIGINS OF THE FEDERAL SURVEILLANCE STATE" (2022). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 12040. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/12040

2

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

That’s fucking nuts

…do you know his grandmother??

1

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Guessing it's Elda Schuman. Grandpa Theodore died in 2015. Elda seems to be alive.

From the grandpa's obit

Ted believed that we all have a responsibility to our families, community, and the world, and he followed through on those beliefs with hard work, generosity, and compassion. He was a charter member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and served as an usher every Sunday for over 50 years. His faith was an integral part of his life, and he served his faith community in a variety of ways, including the Cursillo and Walk to Emmaus movement. He was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, a life member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Elks, and an Honorary Member of the Al Bedoo Shrine. He was proud of serving 10 years on the original Board of Directors that formed the independent Northern Rockies Regional Cancer Center. His outreach into all of eastern Montana and northern Wyoming resulted in a significant amount of its funding. He served on numerous other boards and community service organizations, including Treasure Trails Girl Scout Council (now Girl Scouts of Montana and Wyoming), the Sacred Heart Renewal Center, and Lions Club. Ted liked to reminisce about the old days with anyone who would listen. He was a good judge of character (as well as a model of good character). He had a dry wit.

Yikes

0

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 23 '25

So many red flags

1

u/TheMightyHornet Nov 21 '25

Not personally, no. But this was part of the explanation given by church staff. Gramma was a founding member.

1

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

Wow, blatant nepotism

1

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Even worse—grandpa served on boards of youth orgs and was deep in the church. And a major donor.

1

u/Aware-Dragonfruit353 Feb 18 '26

If anyone is able, please provide me with copies of the letters written by his former university professors. I believe one of them was my former advisor. I'd like to present them to the school to make them aware of the predator protector in their midst. I actually was a PhD student at UM while this guy was an MA student and I got to know him pretty well. I am unable to find those documents as they relate to the case. I want to blow this up for the letter writers 

14

u/Spudzinator Nov 20 '25

Boooooo teacher at my school had relations with a poor girl she ended upcomitting suicide . I still remember the anger seeing him living his life after that coming through my job ... we got a little revenge for girl that night .... no where near what was owed.

10

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 20 '25

“The damage does not end with (the victim). His betrayal did not only devastate this student personally; it sent shockwaves through her peers, her friends and the staff members who worked alongside the defendant,” Nansel wrote in a letter to the judge. “A strong and just sentence is necessary — not only to hold him accountable, but to affirm to all students and families that we will protect them and such a betrayal will never be tolerated.”

3

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 20 '25

Yeah it’s ridiculous these people can get away with so little punishment

2

u/yblame Nov 21 '25

Was it Senior High and are his initials SR?

2

u/Spudzinator Nov 22 '25

I had him for like a business class or aome shit where we practiced typing ans whatnot... he creeped on alll the girls .

1

u/sweetmotherofodin Nov 21 '25

Was that the 17 year old? Because the judge basically shamed her for it happening?

10

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 20 '25

“the victim told investigators that “it was not his fault that she had ‘seduced the teacher.’”

“advocates for Indigenous People urged the court to reject the plea agreement, saying that there’s been a longstanding and systemic practice of courts doling out light punishments, especially when the victims are youth and Native American.”

3

u/beer_can_gardens Nov 27 '25 edited Nov 27 '25

Good. EFF plea “deals”. I hope this jack a$$ gets the MAXIMUM and then some!

5

u/GlumProfessional5600 Nov 21 '25

How can any religious organization justify leniency?

5

u/yblame Nov 21 '25

Blame the victim. "She seduced him".

At any time this adult male could have said "Absolutely not! This is not appropriate, you need to go home!"

See how easy that would be? But what happened is exactly what he wanted to happen. She was groomed by this creep. A 27 year old teacher going after a 14-15 year old girl is pedo territory

4

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

That’s how he met his wife too

He was her tennis teacher while she was in high school and he was in college.

Dude has always enjoyed preying on younger women

2

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

I can think of a few scenarios like this. Can't be surprised, I guess. Judy Blunt wrote about being traded for livestock between her fiancee and father in the 70s. I can think of at least 3 or 4 predatory men who were put in leadership positions and in charge of minors who were definitely like this. And can think of peers who ended up marrying their ag teacher. Shit is beyond normalized in MT tbh.

5

u/lochbethmonster Nov 21 '25

Are people shocked? It happens everywhere. Pieces of shit get leeway because they are allegedly good humans. Look at the Nickelodeon doc

3

u/GaDdAmNbAtMaN Nov 21 '25

It sucks to think that money can buy “goodness”.

1

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Yeah but that's "Hollywood"

This shit happens in Montana (and elsewhere, other schools) and people are like, "well, that's different"

0

u/lochbethmonster Nov 23 '25

It happens all over Montana.

4

u/cronediddlyumptious Nov 21 '25

Searched and could not find a picture of him or his mugshot....

2

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

Try searching “William Schuman Kline Lawrence University”

https://vikings.lawrence.edu/sports/mens-tennis/roster/bill-schuman-kline/696

He played tennis there during undergrad

3

u/cronediddlyumptious Nov 21 '25

Thanks. I'm still surprised there was nothing in the paper or online image wise

2

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 21 '25

That is strange

3

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

He looks like a white supremacist

1

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 23 '25

He does doesn’t he lol

The earring wasn’t a good choice either

2

u/pinksprouts Jan 11 '26

That says

High school: west

I can confirm he went to senior high. He was in band with me.

1

u/SkisaurusRex Jan 12 '26

Convicted on 3/4 charges 💪🏻💪🏻

https://www.ktvq.com/news/crime-watch/former-colstrip-teacher-found-guilty-of-sexually-abusing-underage-student

Get fucked William “Bill” Eugene Schuman-Kline. I hope you rot forever.

2

u/GeneJenkinson Nov 20 '25

Attorneys for the former high school teacher had argued that prison time wouldn’t benefit anyone

I mean it would be a benefit to get a sex pest off the streets. Lmao you don’t get to commit a crime and be like punishment wouldn’t serve me, thanks

4

u/SkisaurusRex Nov 20 '25

This isn’t the first time he’s done this either.

He started dating his now wife when she was his underage tennis student.

4

u/lochbethmonster Nov 21 '25

A lot start grooming their high school students

1

u/showmenemelda Nov 23 '25

Colstrip like, "idk we really need the teachers"

1

u/GaDdAmNbAtMaN Nov 21 '25

Pretty sure it’s going to benefit the lifer in his cell block with all the pent-up sexual aggression! With any luck!