News and Press Releases
Hawley man sentenced for
illegally possessing eight firearms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 28, 2011
MINNEAPOLIS – Earlier today in federal court in St. Paul, a man from the northwestern
community of Hawley was sentenced for possessing eight firearms illegally. United States
District Court Judge Donovan W. Frank sentenced Timothy Lloyal Burnside, age 49, to 30
months in prison on one count of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Burnside was
indicted on May 18, 2011, and pleaded guilty on July 25, 2011.
Burnside is prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms because of previous
misdemeanor convictions for domestic violence. Between 2007 and 2008, he was convicted
three times in North Dakota for domestic violence. Eight firearms were seized on April 1, 2011,
during the execution of a search warrant at his residence, including three .22-caliber rifles, two
.30-caliber rifles, a 12-gauge shotgun, a .22-caliber revolver, and a .38-caliber derringer pistol.
This case was the result of an investigation by the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and Explosives and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant
U.S. Attorney LeeAnn K. Bell.
Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (“PSN”), an initiative launched by the
U.S. Justice Department in 2001 to promote a multi-jurisdictional, comprehensive approach to
reducing gun crime in America. PSN provides resources to strengthen law enforcement and
crime prevention partnerships that work to make our communities safer.
