Michael Mathison Indicted on Firearm Charges in Fresno

FRESNO, Calif. — A 26-year-old Selma man is facing federal time after being caught with a firearm he’s legally barred from owning. Michael Mathison was indicted by a federal grand jury on one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert announced today.

The arrest unfolded in late November when a Fresno police officer assigned to the Fresno County Probation Adult Compliance Team approached Mathison during a routine compliance check. Instead of complying, Mathison allegedly tried to run. As officers closed in, he tossed a handgun into a nearby yard — a move caught on bodycam footage, according to the criminal complaint.

Officers apprehended Mathison moments later. A search of the yard turned up the discarded firearm and accompanying ammunition. Court records show Mathison has multiple prior felony convictions, making it a federal crime for him to possess any weapon. That history now forms the backbone of the prosecution’s case.

The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Fresno County Probation Adult Compliance Team, and the Fresno Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ross Pearson is leading the prosecution, aiming to hold Mathison accountable under the full weight of federal law.

If convicted, Mathison faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. However, the final sentence will be decided by the court after reviewing statutory factors and the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. For now, the charges remain allegations — Mathison is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a federal initiative aimed at reducing gun violence through coordinated enforcement. By targeting chronic offenders like Mathison, PSN seeks to incapacitate repeat violators and send a clear message: illegal gun possession won’t be tolerated on Fresno’s streets.