U.S. Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Jess Porras, age 52, of McLaughlin, appeared before U.S. District Judge Charles B. Kornmann on Jan. 2, 2013, and pled guilty to Count I of an Indictment that charged him with being a Felon In Possession of a Firearm. The maximum penalty upon
conviction is 10 years' imprisonment, a $250,000 fine or both, and a period of supervised release of 3 years.
The conviction stems from an incident on Dec. 29, 2011, when the Defendant, while acting as a guide on a deer hunt on tribal land, grabbed a gun from a hunter and shot a deer. The Defendant was previously prosecuted in 1994 and is a convicted felon.
The investigation was conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Troy Morley.
A presentence investigation was ordered and a sentencing date was set for April 29, 2013. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
