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BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) Crow Tribal Chairman Carl Venne says the tribe will support Big Horn County Sheriff Lawrence "Pete" Big Hair in an upcoming recall election.

Big Hair was among a slate of Crow candidates the tribe endorsed when they ran for county offices last year. The recall vote goes before county voters Nov. 4.

County residents gathered enough signatures to force the recall.

Their petition asserts that Big Hair is not competent. It also alleges he allowed underqualified people to work as deputies and accuses him of breaching a code of ethics.

State investigators are looking into allegations that Big Hair used prisoners to perform private work.

A week before the recall drive began, Big Hair was jailed on domestic abuse charges involving his estranged wife. The sheriff pleaded not guilty in Crow Tribal Court.

Information from: Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com (Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 10-07-08 1004CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list