FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
JERROD HENRY FISTER 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 July 22, 2008, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeremiah C. Lynch, JERROD HENRY FISTER, a 31-year-old resident of the Kalispell/Libby area, pled guilty to possession of firearms by an unlawful drug user. Sentencing is set for November 21, 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:
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
FISTER.
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 FISTER and his girlfriend were located in the room. FISTER admitted he had been smoking marijuana in the room and produced marijuana and a pipe. FISTER also admitted to being a methamphetamine user and that he had used a lot of methamphetamine in the past year.
FISTER consented to a search of the motel room and admitted there was a .44 magnum revolver on the stand next to the window. He stated that he had purchased it from an ad in a magazine. A 12-gauge shotgun was also located during the search. FISTER 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 Leroy Waldron, Jr. 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.
FISTER'S girlfriend stated that Guy Waldron carried the shotgun into the motel room, tossed it on the bed, and told FISTER "there's your gun."
On November 29, 2007, Guy Waldron whispered to FISTER that the shotgun "should be cool and not reported yet."
About November 26, 2007, Guy Waldron had loaned a vehicle to FISTER 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 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.
FISTER is a long-time user of both marijuana and methamphetamine. His drug use was verified by his own admissions to law enforcement as well as collateral witnesses.
Guy Waldron and Wayne Waldron pled guilty to federal charges and are awaiting sentencing.
FISTER 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 Northwest Drug Task Force, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, and the Montana Probation and Parole.
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A copy of the Offer of Proof can be obtained by contacting Sally Frank at (406) 247-4638.
