United States District Court, District of Northern California
Federal prosecution for convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Client had previous felony convictions for cultivation and sales of marijuana 20 years earlier. Client was detained by National Park ranger as he returned from a hunting trip near Redwood National Park. Investigation revealed that this particular Park Ranger was making numerous illegal vehicle stops within the national park. Investigation further revealed that client was a well-known hunting and fishing enthusiast who had assisted in local conservation efforts in the area. Local law enforcement was well aware of the prior convictions and looked the other way realizing that client was not a threat. United States attorney and Adult Probation Department agreed to a term of probation and no jail time. All of client’s firearms were later returned by the ATF.