FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, December 07, 2007
MICHAEL DAVID WEST WISDOM SENTENCED IN U.S. DISTRICT COURT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on December 7, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, MICHAEL DAVID WEST WISDOM, age 20, appeared for sentencing. WISDOM was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 24 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Restitution: $508.55
- Supervised Release: 3 years
WISDOM was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On August 29, 2005, a Glock 9mm handgun was stolen from a vehicle parked at the Blue Mountain Recreation area near Missoula. The Glock 9mm handgun was later turned into law enforcement by a concerned citizen on October 11, 2005. During the interim time, two prohibited persons, WISDOM and another individual, both unlawful drug users, possessed the stolen handgun.
When questioned, WISDOM stated that the other individual had stolen the gun and wanted to sell or trade it. WISDOM and the other individual then traded the gun to a friend of theirs for $20.00 and seven grams of marijuana. At some point during the transaction, WISDOM possessed the gun and fired the lone bullet.
However, when questioned, the first individual stated that WISDOM, not the individual, broke into the car and stolen the firearm. The first individual also stated that he then purchased the firearm from WISDOM, knowing it was stolen.
On October 11, 2005, the gun was located by the friend's father, who turned the gun over to law enforcement.
WISDOM also admitted that he and the first individual were regular marijuana users when the firearm was stolen and possessed. WISDOM also admitted that prior to trading the gun to their friend, WISDOM and the first individual fired the gun at Elks Meadows near Highway 12.
Testimony would have been given by officers with the Missoula Correctional Services that both WISDOM and the first individual had a history of drug use. Both had tested positive for marijuana use while under MCS supervision. Specifically, WISDOM tested positive for marijuana use on February 6, 14, 22, and 23, 2006; and on May 29 and 30, 2006.
On February 9, 2006, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were recovered from WISDOM'S residence.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that WISDOM will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, WISDOM does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws. In Montana, the effort under PSN is called "Catch and No Release."
