Gun dealer indicted during Hutaree probe is acquitted of federal gun charge
An Adrian gun dealer who gained national media attention after federal prosecutors alleged he was affiliated with Hutaree militia members, was acquitted of a gun charge Thursday by a federal jury in Detroit, court records show.
Walter Priest, 53, the owner of Gun Outfitters LLC was found not guilty of possessing a firearm with an obliterated serial number.
He was accused of selling a rifle with a partial serial number to a Lansing area man on July 4, 2008. Priest was indicted in April and was out on a $100,000 unsecured bond.
“I’m thrilled,” Priest said. “The power of the Lord was involved in this. I never had any doubt that we were going to be cleared of it.”
The jury deliberated for less than three hours before returning the verdict in front of U.S. District Judge Nancy Edmunds, said Priest's lawyer, Harold Gurewitz. Jury selection began Dec. 2 and the trial wrapped up early Thursday afternoon.
"Obviously, the jury spoke, I think absolutely clearly because it came back so quickly," Gurewitz said. "I think it shouldn't have been brought in the first place."
Gurewitz contends that his client was hurt by rumors about being linked with Hutaree militia members, who are accused of plotting to kill police and are awaiting trial.
"There certainly is the appearance that but for these unfortunate rumors, he wouldn't have been charged with this offense," he said.
In prosecuting the Hutaree case, federal prosecutors had alleged an offer was made by Hutaree members to break Priest's son out of jail, and Priest admitted giving Hutaree members a discount at his store.
Priest said the extent of his interaction with Hutaree was that two members were former customers, and all customers receive discounts.
The investigation and trial was difficult for his family and business, he said.
"It has been terrible, but we all got through this with our faith."
Lee Higgins covers crime and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached by phone at (734) 623-2527 and email at leehiggins@annarbor.com.
Comments
Jeepige
Sun, Dec 12, 2010 : 6:31 p.m.
Ricebrnr, Really, Really good question.
Ricebrnr
Sun, Dec 12, 2010 : 10:36 a.m.
Sure would be nice to have a follow up report on this purported evidence and see why the jurors rejected the government's case. It's pretty black and white, serials numbers are or are not obliterated. Did there really need to be a trial to determine that? So given the above what would the ulterior motives and end goal have been? Inquiring minds want to know.
Huron74
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 : 2:13 p.m.
Must not been much of a case. Either he had a firearm with an "obliterated serial number" and the ATF could prove it, or not. I am kinda disappointed in the coverage of this story. Clicking through the past AA.com stories and their links and going all the way back to when Mr.Priest was arrested the specific details of the case seem to be missing from the reportage. Of the who, what, where, when and how from basic journalism I can only see the "who" being covered.
fremdfirma
Sat, Dec 11, 2010 : 12:09 p.m.
That's the thing - the money SHOULD come directly from their budget, if they are the responsible party for the offensive conduct and misuse of the law, I suspect if many of these officers, agents and supervisors had to wind up taking pay cuts in response to such behavior it would quickly put a damper on it. So long as the public pays them, and then also pays for their abuses, there is very little accountability and because of the relationship between prosecutors, courts and law enforcement making any other form of accountability a joke, holding them financially liable for their own conduct is in fact the least we can do.
Jeepige
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 8:25 p.m.
You are right, Ricebrnr. We are very fortunate, only the death of a promising business to mourn, instead of maybe our family. Again, praises to God for that as well. Maybe through all of this the powers that be will think twice and do a little more investigation before they unjustly accuse someone. Hope springs eternal.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 7:40 p.m.
@Jeepige, I know that the money eventually comes from the people at some point but it will hopefully come from their budgets in the short run. Let me add that I hope they sue the specific people responsible for this travesty. Unfortunately they're probably shielded by policy and with no deaths like Weaver's children and wife....
Jeepige
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 5:36 p.m.
Thanks for your comment, Ricebrnr. The thing is, it isn't the Government's money that we'd be awarded. It is the people's, and the people aren't the ones who decided to prosecute. Too many resources have been needlessly wasted already on this, ours included. We are just grateful that God has been all over this situation and truth won out over anything and everything else. Thanks again.
Ricebrnr
Fri, Dec 10, 2010 : 12:35 p.m.
Is that another shoe dropping for the FBI, I hear? I hope he sues the bejeezus out of them and makes a tone of money. I suppose he should count himself luckier than Randy Weaver who lost family members in that spectacular and eerily similar tragedy.