FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
GUY ERIC WALDRON and WAYNE LEROY WALDRON JR. PLEAD 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 July 8, 2008, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, GUY ERIC WALDRON, age 30, and WAYNE LEROY WALDRON JR., age 39, residents of Libby, pled guilty to being unlawful users of controlled substances in possession of firearms. Sentencing is set for November 21, 2008. They are 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 11, 2007, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office (LCSO) received a report of a residential burglary in Libby. Several firearms were stolen, including a Winchester 12 gauge shotgun, which was subsequently recovered from another individual, hereafter referred to as "JF".
On November 28, 2007, a Montana State Probation and Parole officer requested assistance on a probation warrant. Law enforcement went to a motel in Libby to look for the probation absconder. The probationer was not located, but "JF" and his girlfriend were located in the room. "JF" admitted he had been smoking marijuana in the room and produced marijuana and a pipe. "JF" also admitted to being a methamphetamine user and that he had used a lot of methamphetamine in the past year.
JF" consented to a search of the motel room and admitted there was a .44 magnum revolver on the stand next to the window. He purchased it from an ad in the "Mountain Trader" magazine. A 12 gauge shotgun was also located during the search. "JF" stated he bought the shotgun from GUY WALDRON, who also offered to sell him methamphetamine.
It was determined the shotgun was stolen in the Libby residential burglary. WAYNE WALDRON subsequently admitted to the burglary in which this shotgun and several other firearms were stolen and stated he gave the firearms to his brother, GUY WALDRON.
JF's" girlfriend stated that GUY WALDRON carried the shotgun into the motel room, tossed it on the bed, and told "JF," "there's your gun."
On November 29, 2007, GUY WALDRON whispered to "JF" that the shotgun "should be cool and not reported yet."
On approximately November 26, 2007, GUY WALDRON had loaned a vehicle to "JF" and the vehicle was impounded on November 28, 2007. On December 13, 2007, GUY WALDRON met with officers to pick up the vehicle. Officers observed a revolver in a holster laying in plain view on the dash of GUY WALDRON'S pickup.
On December 6, 2007, a search warrant was obtained at the motel where WAYNE WALDRON was staying. During the search, firearms were located. During a search of WAYNE WALDRON'S vehicle, a glass pipe was recovered.
During the course of serving an arrest warrant on WAYNE WALDRON, GUY WALDRON arrived and told detectives that WAYNE WALDRON committed several burglaries. GUY WALDRON denied going into any of the homes with his brother but admitted to selling some of the stolen property his brother had given to him. The detective noticed a Ruger pistol lying on GUY WALDRON'S dashboard. GUY WALDRON told the detective he carried the pistol with him everywhere he went.
The same day, officers went to the residence of B.P. to secure a truck believed to have been used in multiple burglaries by WAYNE WALDRON. B.P. consented to a search of her residence. A tool box containing drug paraphernalia was located. GUY WALDRON admitted this tool box belonged to him.
During August 13-22, 2007, GUY WALDRON was incarcerated and admitted to officers he used methamphetamine, but only a couple of times.
Officers spoke to J.B. multiple times during the fall of 2007. J.B. stated GUY WALDRON offered to sell him methamphetamine on multiple occasions. On one occasion, J.B. stated he saw GUY WALDRON with three 8-balls of methamphetamine.
On December 7, 2007, WAYNE WALDRON admitted to committing several burglaries in Lincoln and Sanders Counties. On December 11, 2007, and December 13, 2007, WAYNE WALDRON told officers his brother, GUY WALDRON, and GUY WALDRON'S girlfriend were accomplices. WAYNE WALDRON also stated he had given most of the stolen firearms to his brother GUY WALDRON, who had in turn sold them.
On December 14, 2007, WAYNE WALDRON told officers he believed GUY WALDRON sold the stolen firearms to eight various people and that J.S. should have most of the stolen firearms from the Libby residential burglary.
Several individuals would have testified to purchasing firearms from GUY WALDRON. They each face possible penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and 3 years supervised release.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, the Montana Probation and Parole, 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.
