Louis J. Dettling, Possessing Unregistered Firearm, Maine 2021

BANGOR, Maine: An Orono man will face the consequences of his actions after pleading guilty to possessing an unregistered firearm, U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee announced.

Louis J. Dettling, 27, of Orono, Maine, was stopped by the Holden Police Department on March 2, 2021, and arrested on outstanding state charges.

During a subsequent inventory search of Dettling’s vehicle, authorities discovered a short-barreled rifle that was not registered to him in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).

According to federal law, the possession of a rifle with a barrel of less than 16 inches in length is prohibited unless the weapon is registered to the possessor in the NFRTR.

Dettling now faces up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine for his crime.

He will be sentenced after the completion of a presentence investigative report by the U.S. Probation Office, and a federal district judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lewiston and Holden police departments.

The prosecution is part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a nationwide effort that aims to reduce violent crime through community engagement, prevention, and focused enforcement.

The PSN initiative brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify and address the most pressing violent crime problems in a community.

Dettling’s guilty plea is a significant step in the PSN initiative’s efforts to reduce violent crime in Maine and across the country.

The case serves as a reminder of the importance of registering firearms as required by law and the consequences of failing to do so.

Defendant: Louis J. Dettling, 27, of Orono, Maine.

Criminal charges: Possessing an unregistered firearm.

City and state: Bangor, Maine.

Exact date: March 2, 2021.

Sentence or outcome: Up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.

Dollar amounts: $10,000.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-me/pr/orono-man-pleads-guilty-possessing-short-barreled-rifle