Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Billings, on April 29, 2009, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JASON LEE FISHER, a 41-year-old resident of Lame Deer, appeared for sentencing. FISHER was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 6 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 2 years

FISHER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by an individual previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

On December 5, 2005, FISHER was convicted of a partner family member assault in Rosebud County.

On January 15, 2007, the FISHER'S ex-wife reported that a firearm was missing from her home. She further reported that FISHER was not allowed to possess firearms due to a domestic violence conviction. She had been out of town on business and FISHER had stayed at her house during her absence to care for their children. When she returned home and noticed the firearm, a Ruger Model M77 II, .26-06 caliber rifle, missing, she asked her daughter where the firearm was and was told that FISHER had taken it.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that FISHER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, FISHER does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

 

 

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