Vincent Joseph Curley Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Missoula, on January 31, 2012, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy, VINCENT JOSEPH CURLEY, a 31-year-old resident of Ronan, appeared for sentencing. CURLEY was sentenced to a term of:
Prison: 5 months
Home Arrest: 5 months
Special Assessment: $100
Supervised Release: 3 years
CURLEY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of a firearm after having been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On April 18, 2010, CURLEY possessed a Hi-Point pistol during a domestic disturbance in Ronan. During the domestic disturbance, CURLEY threatened his domestic partner with the loaded pistol. CURLEY was previously convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse on July 23, 2003, in the Flathead Tribal Court.
During the investigation of the domestic disturbance call, law enforcement spoke to CURLEY and his domestic partner. Law enforcement learned that during the argument CURLEY possessed a pistol and continued to cock it as he insisted someone was in the attic. Law enforcement learned that CURLEY waived the pistol around the house and ejected ammunition out of the pistol during the argument. Law enforcement also learned that CURLEY had "thrown her around." Officers noticed marks on her neck and chest.
When officers asked CURLEY if he had a pistol, CURLEY responded that the pistol was under the pillow in the bedroom. Officers located a .40 caliber Hi-Point pistol and unloaded it. The pistol was loaded with a round in the chamber.
The investigation revealed that CURLEY purchased the Hi-Point pistol on December 1, 2009, in Ronan.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that CURLEY will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, CURLEY does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.
The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Flathead Tribal Police.
