Man sentenced for burning wheelchair-bound Billings man alive in trailer home

“I take no pleasure in putting someone in prison for what could be the rest of their life,” said Yellowstone County District Judge Ashley Harada before issuing her sentence. “I don’t think that you are evil, but your behavior … was so evil and wrong. There is such a level of depravity in taking a life the way you did.”

Hosey, who has spent most of his life in and out of correctional institutions, moved from North Carolina to Montana in December 2024. While living in Billings, Hosey became convinced that Huston had behaved inappropriately toward a minor.

At Friday’s sentencing, an investigator with the Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office testified that Huston had never been convicted or charged with any crime involving child sex abuse.

Hosey planned to attack Huston at his home at the Meadowlark mobile home park just south of Billings.

Early on the morning of May 10, 2025, Hosey entered Huston’s trailer. Although Hosey said Friday that Huston pulled a knife on him and Hosey responded by punching him in the throat, evidence gathered at the scene indicated that Huston suffered trauma to his face and neck. In the wake of Hosey’s arrest, investigators noted that he did not have any injuries. Also of note, Huston was wheelchair-bound after having his left leg amputated at the knee.

Hosey beat Huston, court documents said, then alerted a then 14-year-old boy to join him in the assault. The assault ended with the teen exiting the trailer, court documents said, then Hosey wrapped Huston’s head with flashing tape, dumped him flat on his back on the floor and lit a fire inside the trailer using gasoline.

Hosey left Huston to burn inside the trailer. Although security footage showed Hosey briefly returning to the scene, he ultimately drove away from the area. A trooper with Montana Highway Patrol identified and arrested Hosey at gas station in Hardin later that same day.

Prosecutors called one witness to testify Friday: YCSO Det. Laura Walker. After looking over graphic photos taken of Huston’s burned body and face, Walker said his cause of death was smoke inhalation and thermal injuries.

“So, he was alive when the fire started,” asked Senior Deputy Yellowstone County Attorney Alexander Wilson.

“Correct,” Walker said.

Members of the Blue Creek Volunteer Fire Department extinguished the fire at the trailer home. By the time crews had the fire under control, it had burned through most of the trailer’s interior. In the fallout of firefighters locating Huston’s remains, deputies with YCSO determined his death and the fire to be suspicious.

On May 14, Yellowstone County prosecutors charged Hosey with deliberate homicide. They filed criminal charges against his teenage co-defendant less than a month later. After pleading not guilty to the murder charge, Hosey remained in custody at Yellowstone County Detention Facility with his bond set at $500,000.

While in jail, Walker testified, Hosey spoke to several people about killing Huston. In those conversations, Walker said, Hosey seemingly showed no remorse.

“His story never really changes,” Walker said. “He says he tied up and killed a pedophile.”

On May 27, 2026, Hosey reached a plea agreement with prosecutors in which he admitted to the murder in court. In exchange for his guilty plea, prosecutors recommended an 80-year prison sentence.

Hosey planned Huston’s murder to be “as painful and as humiliating as possible,” Wilson said Friday, and that Hosey chose to involve a teenage boy in the murder made the crime more egregious.

“He is a clear danger to the community,” Wilson said.

Hosey’s defense argued for a sentence of 60 years. Melinda Driscoll, who represented Hosey alongside David Merchant, said that her client’s childhood was one of trauma after trauma.

Along with being a survivor of child sex abuse, Hosey witnessed his father’s suicide. Since the time he was 8 years old, she said, Hosey has been in and out of various institutions, from foster homes to prison. Merchant was more succinct in Hosey’s life leading up to the homicide.

“Justin had nothing,” Merchant said. “Ever.”

Judge Harada offered Hosey the chance to speak, and he took that time to insist that he was remorseful. Hosey said he wanted Huston to live and intentionally placed him near the door to his trailer to give him the chance to escape.

“This is not something I wanted to do,” he said. “I’m not as bad as they’re trying to make me out to seem.”

“What you did was very bad,” Harada said.

“Yes, ma’am,” Hosey answered.

Harada acknowledged the horrific experiences Hosey had throughout his life. Those experiences could never justify what he did to Huston, she said. Even if Hosey did perceive Huston as a threat, Harada said she could not understand how Hosey could assault a man with a disability and leave him to burn to death. While she worried that Montana State Prison may not have the resources to rehabilitate Hosey, she wished him the best of luck before sentencing him to 80 years. With no restrictions on his sentence, Hosey will be eligible for parole in 20 years.

Later this year, Hosey’s teenage codefendant will appear for a hearing to determine whether his case will continue in Yellowstone County District Court or be transferred to Youth Court.