COEUR D’ALENE, ID – Kyle Eugene Goddard, 28, of Plummer, Idaho, will spend the next 15 months behind bars after being sentenced yesterday for a brazen firearms theft. Acting U.S. Attorney Rafael Gonzalez announced the sentence, handed down by Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill. Goddard also faces three years of supervised release following his incarceration and has been ordered to pay $900 in restitution.
The sentence stems from Goddard’s November 16, 2016, guilty plea to charges of theft of firearms and possession of stolen firearms. The crime occurred on July 23, 2016, when Goddard targeted Bargain Barn, a local Plummer business, making off with two handguns.
Court records reveal Goddard pilfered a Taurus 709 Slim 9mm and a Springfield Armory XD 40 from the store. The details of how he managed the theft remain largely undisclosed, but the outcome is clear: a federal conviction and time in prison. This wasn’t a petty shoplifting incident; Goddard deliberately targeted firearms, escalating the seriousness of the offense.
The investigation into Goddard’s actions was a collaborative effort, involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This multi-agency approach underscores the seriousness with which federal authorities treat gun-related crimes.
Prosecutors framed the case as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, a statewide initiative aimed at reducing gun violence. The program focuses on prosecuting individuals involved in illegal firearm activity, hoping to disrupt the flow of weapons to criminals and make Idaho communities safer. Goddard’s case serves as a warning to others contemplating similar crimes.
While 15 months may seem relatively short, federal sentences often carry strict conditions of supervised release. Goddard will be monitored closely after his release, and any violation of those conditions could send him back to prison. The $900 restitution order ensures Bargain Barn receives some compensation for the stolen firearms, though the true cost of the crime extends beyond mere monetary value.
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Key Facts
- State: Idaho
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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