DOJ Seal

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney's Office
Western District of Wisconsin

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, July 24, 2018
Scott C. Blader
, United States Attorney
Contact: Rita M. Rumbelow

Baraboo Man Sentenced to Four Years for Possessing a Sawed-Off Shotgun

MADISON, WIS. -- Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Jonathon Popple, 34, Baraboo, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.  Popple pleaded guilty to this charge on April 18, 2018.  

The charge against Popple resulted after a Columbia County Sheriff’s Deputy on routine patrol on October 31, 2017 observed Popple sleeping in a truck at 2:00 a.m. in an empty parking lot at the Pine Island Wildlife Reserve. The deputy activated his squad video and approached the passenger side of the truck.  Popple was the only occupant of the truck and the deputy saw that a butane torch was on.  The deputy also observed a sawed-off shotgun in the truck. Popple is prohibited from possessing firearms due to two prior drug-related felony convictions.

 

The charge against Popple was the result of an investigation conducted by the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.  The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow. 

 

 This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.  Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority.  In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.

 

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St. Paul Field Division