Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Bonners Ferry Man Sentenced for Unlawfully Possessing Firearm

COEUR D’ALENE – Donald Paul Hankey, 28, of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was sentenced yesterday in United States District Court to 18 months in prison for felon in possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Hankey to serve three years of supervised release, and pay a fine of $1,500. He pleaded guilty to the charge on March 5, 2013.

According to court documents, on November 13, 2012, Hankey knowingly and illegally possessed a Springfield Armory 9 millimeter handgun. Hankey is prohibited from possessing firearms due to a previous felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance. Hankey will forfeit the firearm he unlawfully possessed.

The case was investigated by the North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force (NIVCTF). The NIVCTF members include the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Sheriff's Office, Shoshone County Sheriff's Office, Bonner County Sheriff's Office, Coeur d'Alene Police Department, Post Falls Police Department, and the Coeur d'Alene Tribal Police Department. The NIVCTF investigates a myriad of violent crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, felonious assault and drug trafficking.

The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.