FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 11, 2008
CHRISTOPHER DANE NELSON 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 April 10, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, CHRISTOPHER DANE NELSON, a 22-year-old resident of Livingston, pled guilty to theft from a federal firearms licensee, robbery affecting commerce, use of a firearm during a crime of violence and possession of a stolen firearm. Sentencing is set for July 24, 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 November 18, 2006, NELSON stole a Glock .40 caliber pistol from a pawn shop in Bozeman. NELSON walked into the pawn shop, took the .40 caliber pistol, and walked out without paying or attempting to pay for the firearm.
On November 27, 2006, NELSON committed an armed robbery of Casey's Corner Store in Bozeman. During the robbery, NELSON brandished a black pistol (the Glock .40 caliber pistol) at the store clerk.
On December 7, 2006, an associate, at NELSON'S instruction, robbed the Noble Finance location where an unknown amount of cash was taken. NELSON instructed his associate on how to commit the armed robbery. NELSON had chosen the business to rob and drove the get-away car after the robbery.
On January 31, 2007, Bozeman law enforcement located NELSON and the stolen Glock .40 caliber pistol in his possession. When questioned, NELSON admitted to stealing the Glock .40 caliber pistol and to obliterating its serial number.
NELSON faces possible penalties of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 5 years supervised release. In addition, NELSON faces the possibility of an additional mandatory minimum of 7 years in prison and could be sentenced to life, consecutive to any other sentence, for the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bozeman Police Department 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.
