Ronan man gets five years for firearm possession

MISSOULA — On Jan. 31, U.S. District Judge Donald W. Molloy sentenced Vincent Joseph Curley, a 31-year-old resident of Ronan, to five months in prison and five months home arrest, plus three years supervised release for his guilty plea to possession of a firearm after having been previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, on April 18, 2010, Curley threatened his domestic partner with a Hi-Point pistol during a domestic disturbance in Ronan. During the investigation of the domestic disturbance call, law enforcement spoke to Curley and his domestic partner.

Law enforcement learned that during the argument, Curley continued to cock his pistol as he insisted someone was in the attic. Law enforcement learned that Curley waved the pistol around the house and ejected ammunition out of the pistol during the argument. Law enforcement also learned that Curley had “thrown her around.” Officers noticed marks on her neck and chest.

When officers asked Curley if he had a pistol, he responded that the pistol was under the pillow in the bedroom, the documents state. Officers located a .40 caliber Hi-Point pistol and unloaded it. The pistol was loaded with a round in the chamber.

The investigation revealed that Curley had purchased the Hi-Point pistol on Dec. 1, 2009, in Ronan. He was convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse on July 23, 2003 in Flathead Tribal Court.

Because there is no parole in the federal system, the “truth in sentencing” guidelines mandate that Curley will likely serve all of the time imposed by the court. In the federal system, he does have the opportunity to earn a sentence reduction for “good behavior.” However, this reduction will not exceed 15 percent of the overall sentence.

The investigation was a cooperative effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Flathead Tribal Police.