Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena, on May 21, 2009, before Senior U.S. District Judge Justin L. Quackenbush, DANIEL SLYTER WISE appeared for sentencing. WISE was sentenced to a term of:

• Probation: 5 years

• Special Assessment: $60

WISE was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to possession of a stolen firearm.

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

On July 9, 2007, WISE burglarized a Missoula residence. During the burglary, WISE stole a Smith & Wesson .357 caliber revolver. Later the same day, WISE sold the firearm to a man on the street. Unknown to WISE at the time, the man on the street was a convicted felon who turned the stolen firearm over to local law enforcement.

When approached by law enforcement, WISE admitted his burglary as well as stealing the firearm during the burglary.

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

Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart prosecuted the case for the United States.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

This conviction is yet another important outcome from Project Safe Neighborhoods, a national priority of the United States Department of Justice. PSN is designed as a partnership between federal and local law enforcement to reduce violent crime and gun-related crime through the vigorous enforcement of the criminal provisions of the federal firearms laws. In Montana, the effort under PSN is called "Catch and No Release."

 

 

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