Mitchell Man Indicted for Firearms Offenses

US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Mitchell man has been indicted by a federal grand jury for firearms offenses.

Lonnie Dean Hunter, age 52, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2012, for being a felon in possession of a firearm and for being a felon in possession of ammunition. He appeared in Sioux Falls before US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on April 11, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is 15 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Hunter is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Davison County Sheriff’s Office, the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives. Assistant US Attorney John E. Haak is prosecuting the case.

Hunter was remanded to the custody of the US Marshal. A trial date has not yet been set.