John Austin Maroney Sentenced in U.S. District Court
The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on January 5, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, JOHN AUSTIN MARONEY, a 24-year-old resident of Livingston, appeared for sentencing. MARONEY was sentenced to a term of:
- Prison: 15 months, consecutive to another sentence
- Special Assessment: $100
- Supervised Release: 3 years
MARONEY was sentenced in connection with his guilty plea to escape from custody.
In an Offer of Proof filed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jessica T. Fehr, the government stated it would have proved at trial the following:
On June 25, 2008, MARONEY was sentenced in the United States District Court, District of Montana by Judge Jack D. Shanstrom to a 27 month sentence after being convicted of being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. The sentence was to be served consecutive to a previously imposed sentence in state court. MARONEY was transferred by the Bureau of Prisons to Alternatives, Inc.'s Alpha House in Billings. MARONEY's expected release date from the Bureau of Prisons was October 7, 2010.
On August 5, 2010, MARONEY signed out of the Alpha House for the purpose of looking for employment. MARONEY was scheduled to return to the Alpha House by 5:00 p.m. the same day. MARONEY failed to return to the facility. MARONEY's failure to return was verified by a search of the Alpha House and contact with local law enforcement and area hospitals. MARONEY was arrested in Livingston on August 9, 2010. MARONEY, a federally convicted felon, left the Alpha House and traveled to Livingston, Montana, without the authorization of Alternatives, Inc., a contractor with the Bureau of Prisons.
Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that MARONEY will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, MARONEY 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 conducted by the U.S. Marshals Service.
