FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 12, 2008
RONALD TOBY BURD 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 May 9, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, RONALD TOBY BURD, a 30-year-old resident of Butte, appeared for sentencing. BURD was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 78 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
BURD was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to being in possession of a firearm and ammunition after having been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On January 15, 2003, BURD was convicted of domestic assault in the Circuit Court of Clinton County, State of Missouri.
On November 16, 2004, Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement Agency officers located BURD while searching for other subjects in Butte. The officers arrested BURD on a city warrant. During the arrest, officers observed drug paraphernalia and a rifle butt in plain view. During a search of BURD'S room, officers recovered a Norinko SKS assault rifle and 15 rounds of ammunition.
When interviewed, BURD admitted to ownership and possession of the Norinko SKS assault rifle. He stated that he had received the rifle from a friend in October of 2004. BURD also admitted to the misdemeanor domestic violence conviction in Missouri where he fought with his live-in girlfriend.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that BURD will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, BURD 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 a cooperative effort between the Butte Silver Bow Law Enforcement Agency and 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."
