William Leroy Houck, Jr. Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on June 19, 2012, before Senior U.S. District Judge Jack D. Shanstrom, WILLIAM LEROY HOUCK, JR., a 32-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. HOUCK was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 18 months
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
HOUCK was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcia K. Hurd, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
HOUCK was convicted in 2003 of partner or family member assault in Polson for physically assaulting his girlfriend and thereby was prohibited from possessing firearms.
On August 29, 2011, HOUCK made contact with an undercover agent for Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives in Billings. HOUCK and a companion sold the agent a Norinco, Model SKS 7. 62 caliber semiautomatic rifle for $250.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that HOUCK will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, HOUCK 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 conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
