Michael A. Petro, 44, of Watertown, is headed to federal prison after being caught hunting with a shotgun on protected National Park Service land in Kent, Connecticut. The convicted felon was sentenced yesterday by U.S. District Judge Vanessa L. Bryant in Hartford to approximately 11 months in prison, time served, and two years of supervised release for unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition.
On the morning of December 10, 2015, a law enforcement officer patrolling the Appalachian Trail spotted Petro dressed in full camouflage, holding a Savage Arms/Stevens Model 311, 12-gauge shotgun. The weapon was unloaded and breached open, but posted signs clearly marked the area as National Park Service property closed to hunting. When questioned about ammunition, Petro denied having any—until a K-9 unit located two 12-gauge shells under fallen leaves 20 yards away. A later search of his jacket turned up two more shells.
Petro’s criminal past includes a felony assault conviction, making it a federal crime for him to possess any firearm or ammunition that has crossed state or international lines. Under federal law, felons are prohibited from handling weapons under any circumstances, especially on federally managed land where hunting is explicitly banned.
Since December 15, 2015, Petro has remained in state custody facing multiple unrelated charges. His entanglement with the justice system continues to grow, with state-level cases still pending even as federal penalties take effect. On June 13, 2016, he pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.
Judge Bryant added a strict condition to Petro’s supervised release: 200 hours of community service. The sentence underscores the seriousness with which federal courts treat illegal firearm possession, particularly when it occurs on protected federal land and involves individuals with violent criminal histories.
The investigation was led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Environmental Conservation Police from the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, with support from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hal Chen prosecuted the case, ensuring Petro faced full accountability for violating federal law on sacred public grounds.
Related Federal Cases
- Norman Charles Hilbert Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession · Virginia
- Stamford’s Charles Barnes Gets 63 Months for Gun Possession · Connecticut
- Michael Jon Gelagotis Sentenced for Illegal Gun Cache in Beaumont · Texas
- Waterbury Man Anthony Morales, 29, Charged with Illegal Gun Possession · Connecticut
- Alvin ‘Nardy’ Crawford Gets 42 Months for Illegal Gun Possession · Connecticut
Key Facts
- State: Connecticut
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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