Stand-Off With Law Enforcement Ends In 84 Months Of Imprisonment

The United States Attorney's Office announced that JOEL ROBERT PRESCOTT, 43, of Laurel, Montana, was sentenced to a term of 84 months imprisonment, three years supervised release, and a special assessment of $100 during a federal court hearing in Great Falls, Montana, on March 5, 2014, before U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy.

PRESCOTT was sentenced in connection with his December 12, 2013, guilty plea to felon in possession of a firearm. In an Offer of Proof, the United States Attorney's Office stated it would have proved that PRESCOTT was on state supervision for a drug offense. He absconded from supervision and was discovered in Laurel, Montana. A standoff with law enforcement ensued while PRESCOTT was in possession of a firearm. A woman and several children were inside the residence with PRESCOTT during the standoff, but they were

After six hours, PRESCOTT surrendered, and the stand-off ended without any casualties.

At sentencing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Weldon stated that the government's main concern was the protection of the public. According to Weldon, PRESCOTT had been convicted of numerous drug offenses, and now he was actively engaging in stand-offs with law enforcement officers, all while in possession of a firearm and while on state supervision.

The District Court sentenced PRESCOTT to 84 months of imprisonment, with three years of supervised release to follow. Because there is no parole in the federal system, the truth in sentencing guidelines mandate that PRESCOTT will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, PRESCOTT does have the opportunity to shorten the term of custody by earning credit for good behavior. However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

The PRESCOTT investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local police and sheriff's departments.