PORTLAND, Maine – Willie Richard Minor, 63, of South Portland, is facing sentencing after a federal jury found him guilty of illegally possessing a firearm, a charge stemming from a 2016 admission to owning a gun despite a prior conviction for domestic violence. The case, a legal odyssey stretching back over a decade, has been repeatedly revisited due to evolving Supreme Court interpretations of federal firearm laws.
The roots of the case trace back to June 2010, when Minor, then residing in Auburn, was convicted in Maine Superior Court of assaulting his then-wife. This conviction automatically barred him from legally owning firearms under federal law. However, in November 2016, Minor confessed to Auburn Police that he still possessed a gun, leading to its recovery from his Auburn apartment. This wasn’t a simple case, though. Initial convictions in December 2017 and February 2020 were both overturned due to legal challenges.
The Supreme Court’s 2019 ruling in Rehaif v. United States threw a wrench into the proceedings. The decision clarified the government’s burden of proof in firearm possession cases involving prior convictions, requiring prosecutors to demonstrate the defendant *knew* they were prohibited from owning a gun. This led to the vacation of Minor’s first federal conviction and a remand for a new trial. The second conviction was also thrown out in March 2023 after the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit found the jury had been incorrectly instructed based on the Rehaif ruling. This latest trial was held to address those issues.
“This case was particularly important because the new jury instructions given here provide clarity for our future pursuit of such prosecutions against former domestic abusers who illegally possess firearms across Maine,” stated U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee. Her statement underscores the Justice Department’s commitment to enforcing laws aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of those with a history of domestic violence, a sentiment echoed by investigators involved in the long-running case.
The investigation involved a multi-agency effort, with the Auburn Police Department, Maine State Police Crime Laboratory, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and FBI all contributing. The Mechanic Falls Police Department handled the initial domestic assault investigation. Minor now awaits sentencing following the completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. The federal district judge will determine the final sentence, considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other applicable laws. The length of the sentence remains unknown, but Minor previously received time served and three years of supervised release after his second conviction.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of federal gun laws and the persistent challenge of holding domestic abusers accountable, even years after the initial offense. The repeated legal battles highlight the importance of clear jury instructions and the evolving interpretations of constitutional rights in the context of firearm regulations. Prosecutors will likely push for a significant sentence, emphasizing the danger posed by individuals with a history of violence possessing firearms.
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