Felon in Possession of Firearm Sentenced to Federal Prison

Eugene, Ore. - On January 9, 2013, Michael Dean Wasson, 53, was sentenced by U.S. District Chief Judge Ann Aiken to the statutory maximum sentence, 113 months and 15 days in federal prison, for unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. Upon his release from prison, Wasson will be on supervised release for three years.

On June 29, 2012, Oregon State Police Troopers and Officers with the Lane County Sheriff's Office responded to a call about Wasson threatening to kill his elderly parents and carrying a firearm. Upon arrival, Wasson was armed with a loaded AK-47 type semiautomatic rifle. As Wasson turned towards the officers with the rifle, a Trooper fired a shot at defendant that forced Wasson to drop the AK-47. Defendant has multiple felony convictions, including rape in the first degree.

This case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Oregon State Police, and the Lane County Sheriff's Office, and was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Nathan J. Lichvarcik. The Lane County District Attorney's Office is also prosecuting Wasson based upon an unrelated alleged assault.