The United States Attorney's Office announced that during a federal court session in Billings, on August 10, 2011, before Chief U.S. District Judge Richard F. Cebull, BRENT MICHAEL WALLER, a 30-year-old resident of Billings, appeared for sentencing. WALLER was sentenced to a term of:

Prison: 72 months

Special Assessment: $100

Supervised Release: 3 years

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

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

On December 28, 2009, a Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office deputy was patrolling in the Lockwood area and was advised to look for a suspect in an assault. The deputy located a truck matching the description with black electrical tape covering part of the rear license plate. When the deputy checked the front plate number, he was advised that the registered owner was WALLER. WALLER was the driver and he exited the vehicle and met with the deputy. The deputy was then advised that there was an active warrant for WALLER and that he was a convicted felon who was on probation. At the truck, the deputy observed a rifle in plain view in the back seat area. WALLER's probation officer authorized the deputy to search the vehicle. A loaded Remington model 552 .22 rifle and a loaded Benelli Nova shotgun were seized. The Nova shotgun had been reported stolen on December 18, 2009.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the "truth in sentencing" guidelines mandate that WALLER will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, WALLER 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 Yellowstone County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

 

 

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