McLaughlin Man Pleads Guilty to Felon in Possession Charge

U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Jess Porras, age 52, of McLaughlin, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on January 2, 2013, and pled guilty to Count I of an Indictment that charged him with being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm. The maximum penalty upon
conviction is 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both, and a period of supervised release of 3 years.

The conviction stems from an incident on December 29, 2011, when the Defendant, while acting as a guide on a deer hunt on tribal land, grabbed a gun from a hunter and shot a deer. The Defendant was previously prosecuted in 1994 and is a convicted felon.

The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley.

A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for April 29, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.