Watertown Man Indicted for Firearms Offenses

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

Michael Angel Aguirre, age 40, was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 4, 2012, for possession of a firearm by a person subject to a court restraining order and possession of a firearm by an unlawful user of a controlled substance. He appeared in Aberdeen before US Magistrate Judge William D. Gerdes on April 12, 2012, and pled not guilty to the indictment. The maximum penalty upon conviction for each charge is 10 years in prison and/or a $250,000 fine. The charges are merely accusations, and Aguirre is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

The investigation is being conducted by the Watertown Police Department, the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, and the United States Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives.

Special Assistant US Attorney Amy M. Koopmann is prosecuting the case. Aguirre was released on a personal recognizance bond pending trial.