NEWS RELEASE

OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY

WESTERN DISTRICT OF MISSOURI

JOHN F. WOOD

Contact Don Ledford, Public Affairs ● (816) 426-4220 ● 400 East Ninth Street, Room 5510 ● Kansas City, MO 64106

www.usdoj.gov/usao/mow/index.html

JUNE 17, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JURY CONVICTS MOUNTAIN VIEW MAN

FOR ILLEGAL FIREARM

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – John F. Wood, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Mountain View, Mo., man was convicted by a federal jury today for illegally possessing a firearm.

James Dooley, 34, of Mountain View, was found guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Dooley was arrested on Feb. 4, 2007, when a Missouri State Highway Patrol officer observed him driving a vehicle without registration. When the trooper approached the vehicle after Dooley had parked and exited from the vehicle, the officer saw a Marlin .22-caliber rifle inside.

Under federal statutes, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Dooley has prior felony convictions for attempt to manufacture a controlled substance in 2007, possession of a controlled substance in 2006, two counts of possession of a controlled substance in 2003 and possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession with intent to distribute cocaine in 1995.

Under federal statutes, Dooley could be subject to a sentence of 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Douglas C. Bunch. It was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

****************

This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, is available on-line at