Bill Mercer, United States Attorney for the District of Montana, announced today that during a federal court session in Helena, on November 23, 2009, before U.S. Magistrate Judge Keith Strong, JARED THEODORE COX, a 21-year-old resident of Helena, appeared for sentencing. COX was sentenced to a term of:

• Prison: 3 months

• Special Assessment: $ 25

• Fine: $ 500

• Supervised Release: 1 year

COX was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to transfer of a handgun to a juvenile.

In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paulette L. Stewart, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:

During May 2009, COX purchased a .45 caliber handgun in Helena from a private individual. COX purchased the handgun for a juvenile with money provided by the juvenile, even though COX was aware from working with the individual that he was a juvenile. The juvenile had told COX that he wanted the handgun for home protection.

COX immediately transferred the handgun to the juvenile after purchasing it from the private individual. COX and the juvenile then went target shooting twice, once in May and once on June 1. COX purchased ammunition for the handgun with money from the juvenile both times.

On June 3, 2009, in Helena, the juvenile used the handgun to shoot three other juveniles. One juvenile is deceased, one was very critically wounded, and the third was wounded. The juvenile is being prosecuted by the Lewis and Clark County Attorney's Office for one count of deliberate homicide and two counts of attempted deliberate homicide. There was no evidence showing that COX knew or should have known that the juvenile planned to commit a homicide or attempted homicide with the handgun he purchased for the juvenile in May.

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

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Helena Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

 

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