Fish Haven Man Pleads Guilty to Assaulting USFS Employee
POCATELLO – Michael L. Voris, 56, of Fish Haven, Idaho, pleaded guilty today in United States District Court in Pocatello to a misdemeanor charge of assaulting a U.S. Forest Service (USFS) employee, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.
According to the plea agreement, on August 5, 2010, a USFS employee was patrolling the Beaver Creek campground area as part of his duties, when he received reports of a man in a Ford Bronco causing a disturbance. Voris was observed in a blue and white Ford Bronco driving toward the USFS employee on Beaver Creek Road. The vehicle stopped and the USFS employee approached on foot and asked the driver – Voris – a couple of questions, to which Voris responded. At that point the USFS employee retreated and walked back to his vehicle. Voris accelerated in the USFS employee's direction, causing him to jump out of the Bronco's path. Voris continued down the road, then turned around and hit the USFS vehicle, causing damage. As part of his plea agreement, Voris agreed to pay restitution of $1,117.80.
The charge is punishable by up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of $100,000, and up to one year of supervised release.
Sentencing is set for August 2, 2012, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Larry M. Boyle at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.
The case was investigated by the U.S. Forest Service.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a collaborative effort by federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and communities to prevent and deter gun violence.
