Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Great Falls, on January 12, 2009, before U.S. District Judge Sam E. Haddon, RODNEY ROYCE MILLER appeared for sentencing. MILLER was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 35 months

• Special Assessment: $100

• Supervised Release: 3 years

MILLER was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to being a felon-in-possession of a firearm.

In an Offer of Proof filed by the United States, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

In 1996, MILLER was convicted of felony sexual assault in Flathead County and his sentence for this offense had been revoked in 1999 and again in 2005. As a result of this conviction, MILLER was prohibited from possessing firearms.

On July 10, 2008, MILLER'S probation officer received information that he might be in possession of a firearm. During a probation search of MILLER'S home in Great Falls, a .22 caliber pistol identified as an Iver Johnson Arms and Cycle Works (I.J.A. & C. Wks) model I.J. Target Sealed 8, .22 caliber revolver was found hidden in the crawl space of the residence.

When questioned, MILLER admitted the gun was his and also admitted that he knew he was not supposed to possess firearms. He stated that he got it from "John" who lives in Sun Prairie in payment for some work done on a car.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MILLER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MILLER does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for "good behavior." However, this reduction will not exceed 15% of the overall sentence.

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Kory Larsen prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Montana Probation and Parole and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

 

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