Joseph W. Aarnes, Possession of a Stolen Silencer, Washington 2018
Stolen Silencer Lands Spokane Man 92 Months in Prison
A Spokane man is heading to federal prison for possession of a stolen silencer. Joseph W. Aarnes, age 38, was sentenced to 92 months in prison, followed by three years of court supervision, after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen firearm.
According to court documents, Aarnes was arrested on June 6, 2018, by the Washington State Department of Corrections. Two days later, a third party notified DOC that there was a firearm silencer among Aarnes' personal belongings at a residence. A Gemtech, model Outback 2d, silencer was seized after officers obtained consent to search the residence. Investigators determined the silencer had been reported stolen.
Under federal law, a silencer is considered a firearm. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Washington will continue to prosecute aggressively those individuals who illegally possess firearms and ammunition, said U.S. Attorney William D. Hyslop.
This case was prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program, a federal, state, and local law enforcement collaboration to identify, investigate, and prosecute individuals responsible for violent crimes. The case is also part of Project Guardian, the Department of Justice's signature initiative to reduce gun violence and enforce federal firearms laws.
Aarnes is currently awaiting transfer to a federal prison facility. He was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick J. Cashman with support from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Spokane Regional Safe Streets Task Force, the Spokane Regional Field Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the Spokane Police Department.
Details of the investigation and prosecution of the case are available on the Project Guardian website.
Defendant Name: Joseph W. Aarnes
Criminal Charges: Possession of a stolen firearm
City and State: Spokane, Washington
Arrest Date: June 6, 2018
Sentence: 92 months in prison, followed by three years of court supervision
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Weapons
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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