FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, December 13, 2007
SHANE TRAVIS WARRANT 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 December 13, 2007, before Chief U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, SHANE TRAVIS WARRANT, a 25-year-old resident of Libby/Hungry Horse, pled guilty to being a felon-in-possession of a firearm or ammunition and being an unlawful user of a controlled substance in possession of a firearm . Sentencing is set for April 17, 2008. He 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 June 2, 2002, WARRANT was convicted of felony criminal possession of dangerous drugs in Flathead County and was under probationary supervision by the Montana Department of Corrections.
On February 3, 2007, WARRANT was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for speeding. During the traffic stop, WARRANT attempted to flee. When Mineral County Sheriff's deputies apprehended WARRANT, a 9mm pistol was recovered next to WARRANT on the ground. The deputies located a box of 9mm ammunition on WARRANT'S person. They also located a loaded 9mm clip in the vehicle where WARRANT had been sitting. The deputies then located $1,100 cash, nine syringes, 13 small plastic baggies used in drug distribution, and one baggie with methamphetamine residue. Both the money and larger baggie tested positive for the presence of methamphetamine when tested later at the Montana State Crime Lab.
WARRANT faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release for each count.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Mineral County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
