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Press Release

Twin Falls County Man Pleads Guilty to Unlawful Possession of Firearms

For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Idaho

BOISE – Michael A. Southerland, 26, of Twin Falls County, Idaho, pleaded guilty yesterday in United States District Court to unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced.  Southerland was indicted by a federal grand jury on November 10, 2015.

According to the plea agreement, Southerland admitted that on October 28, 2015, he knowingly possessed two firearms after having been convicted of felony possession of a destructive device in California.

Southerland was arrested after law enforcement responded to a 911 call to the residence that he shared with his girlfriend, Lillian Cawley, and her daughter.  The residence formerly belonged to Glen Cawley, Lillian Cawley’s estranged husband.  In March 2015, Glen Cawley was found dead at the residence, having been shot in the back of the head with a shotgun.  Lillian Cawley and Southerland subsequently moved into the residence.  The murder of Glen Cawley is still under investigation.         

Sentencing is set for June 14, 2016, before Chief United States District Judge B. Lynn Winmill.

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

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Twin Falls Sheriff’s Office.

 

Updated March 22, 2016

Topic
Project Safe Neighborhoods
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