FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, July 10, 2008
JOSHUA WRIGHT ERICKSON 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 Helena on July 10, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, JOSHUA WRIGHT ERICKSON, a 23-year-old resident of Helena, pled guilty to being in possession of a firearm after having been previously committed to a mental institution. Sentencing is set for October 9, 2008. He is currently released on special conditions.
In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
In 2003, ERICKSON was involuntarily committed to Warm Springs after the district court found that ERICKSON was "an imminent threat of injury to himself or to others."
On March 14, 2008, in Helena, two police officers responded to a man with a gun complaint. ERICKSON answered the door with a Sig Sauer .45 caliber pistol in his hand.
When questioned, ERICKSON admitted to possession of the Sig Sauer pistol. He was clear that no round was chambered in the pistol. ERICKSON thought the police were friends playing a trick on him. He also admitted to flashing the gun at the other vehicle that cut off he and his friend. ERICKSON admitted that he is a violent offender and did not want to get into trouble over this incident.
ERICKSON'S friends who were present when the police arrived also confirmed ERICKSON'S possession of the pistol.
ERICKSON faces 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 Helena 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.
