FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, January 24, 2008
INFORMATIONAL: FEDERAL COURT ARRAIGNMENT
Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Missoula, on January 24, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, the following individual was arraigned:
ANDREW SCOTT BENNINGFIELD, a resident of Whitefish, appeared on a charge of possession of a bomb by a committed person. He is currently detained. If convicted of this charge, BENNINGFIELD faces possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release. Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart is the prosecutor for the United States. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The defendant pled not guilty to the charge(s).
The charge, an indictment, information or complaint, is merely an accusation and any person named as a defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty. A pre-trial conference and a trial date will be set and the United States will be required to prove the allegations set forth in the indictment beyond a reasonable doubt.
