FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
EMILY NICOLE AUTHEMENT PLEADS GUILTY IN U.S. FEDERAL COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula on October 9, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, EMILY NICOLE AUTHEMENT, a 23-year-old resident of Texas, pled guilty to being in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Sentencing is set for January 25, 2008. She is currently detained.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On May 16, 2007, in Helena, deputies from the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle occupied by AUTHEMENT and two males, one of whom was Jeremy Jordan. Jordan pled guilty and is awaiting sentencing. Officers recovered a 9mm pistol from Jordan, as well as a sawed-off shotgun from the vehicle pursuant to a search warrant.
On July 10, 2007, AUTHEMENT was interviewed and admitted to possession and ownership of the shotgun. She further admitted to cutting down the shotgun approximately one year prior. She also admitted that the pistol was hers. At the time, AUTHEMENT was a convicted felon. She had been convicted in Arkansas for possession with the intent to distribute methamphetamine.
The firearms recovered were: a Compahania Brasileira de Cartuchos, 20 gauge shotgun; and a Stallard Arms, 9mm pistol. The shotgun had an overall length of approximately 20.5" and a barrel length of approximately 13.5".
A check of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record showed that the sawed-off shotgun was not registered nor did AUTHEMENT have any firearms registered to her.
AUTHEMENT faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Lewis & Clark County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
# # # #
A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
