U.S. Attorney Vanessa R. Waldref | U.S. Department of Justice
A Spokane man, Orlando L. Peterson, has been sentenced to 25 months in federal prison followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm after being convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence crimes. The sentencing was announced by Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington.
Court documents reveal that on September 6, 2022, Peterson engaged in an altercation with his ex-girlfriend at his home. During the incident, he pushed her down stairs and took a 9mm handgun from her purse. Later, he confronted her nearby while holding the gun.
Spokane Police found Peterson in a car with another woman who handed over an extended pistol magazine she said Peterson had asked her to hide. A search warrant executed at Peterson’s home uncovered the stolen handgun and multiple rounds of ammunition. Due to prior convictions for domestic violence misdemeanors, Peterson was prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition.
U.S. Attorney Waldref emphasized the importance of their Safe Homes, Safe Community Initiative aimed at preventing domestic violence homicides and restricting access to firearms for those previously convicted of such offenses. This initiative is a collaboration with local law enforcement and prosecutors' offices to focus on repeat offenders like Peterson.
“Everyone deserves to live in a safe home free of domestic violence and fear of gun violence," stated U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref. "My office... focuses our enforcement efforts on repeat offenders... In so doing, we are protecting victims, law enforcement officers who respond to volatile domestic abuse situations, and the entire community.”
ATF Seattle Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais commented on the sentence's justification: “Firearms in the hands of convicted domestic abusers are an extreme danger to our families and our communities.” He added that they will continue focusing on investigating such cases.
The case was investigated by ATF alongside Spokane Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Michael L. Vander Giessen and Michael J. Ellis.
