06/10/2008
Armed Career Criminal Sentenced to 25 Years in Prison
Eugene, Ore. – Mark Bret Tidwell, 45, of Albany, Oregon, was sentenced on June 10, 2008, by United States District Court Judge Michael R. Hogan to serve 25 years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm under the Armed Career Criminal Act. Tidwell was also ordered to serve a federal supervised release term of three years. Because Tidwell=s criminal history included three previous convictions for violent felonies, his possession of a pistol classified him as an armed career criminal; under federal law, this mandates a minimum 15-year sentence with a maximum of life. As part of the plea agreement in the case, Tidwell also agreed to plead guilty in the Circuit Court for Linn County, Oregon to Robbery in the First Degree and Unlawful Manufacture of Methamphetamine and has agreed to a concurrent 90-month state sentence and a 36-month period of post-prison supervision.
This investigation arose from Tidwell=s armed robbery of the Front Street Inn in Albany, Oregon on April 30, 2007. On May 2, 2007, Tidwell was arrested by Albany Police at his sister=s residence. A loaded Star .22 caliber pistol belonging to Tidwell was discovered during a search of the residence. Methamphetamine was also discovered during searches of Tidwell’s vehicle and the residence in which he was staying. In addition, methamphetamine manufacturing paraphernalia was seized from a nearby apartment to which he was connected.
The United States Attorney’s Office and the Linn County District Attorney’s Office worked together in achieving a joint resolution of Tidwell’s federal and state charges. The Eugene Resident Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Albany Police Department successfully investigated the case.
