Lenore Man Indicted for Felon in Possession of a Firearm

COEUR D’ALENE – Manuel Villalobos, 42, of Lenore, Idaho, was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury sitting in Boise on one count of felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced.  Villalobos made his initial appearance yesterday morning and pleaded not guilty.  Trial is set for April 8, 2019, before Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye at the federal courthouse in Coeur d’Alene.

The indictment alleges that on or about February 7, 2019, Villalobos possessed a Zastava, Model O-PAP M70, 7.62x39mm caliber rifle after previously being convicted of a felony. 

The charge of felon in possession of a firearm is punishable by up to ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.

This case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Nez Perce Police Department.

An indictment is a means of charging a person with criminal activity.  It is not evidence. The person is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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