District of South Dakota

www.justice.gov/usao/sd

For Immediate Release

August 20, 2012

Brendan V. Johnson, United States Attorney

Contact: Mark Salter
(605)357-2360

Rapid City Man Pleads Guilty to Being a Felon in Possession of a Firearm

United States Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Christopher Arehart, age 39, of Rapid City, South Dakota, appeared before United States District Judge Jeffrey L. Viken on August 16, 2012, and pled guilty to an indictment that charged him with Felon in Possession of a Firearm. The maximum penalty upon conviction is 10 years of imprisonment and a $250,000 fine.

The charge relates to Arehart possessing a rifle on February 2, 2012, at Rapid City, after having been previously convicted of a felony. The investigation was conducted by the South Dakota Division of Criminal Investigation, the Rapid City Police Department, and the ATF. The case is being prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Laura Shattuck.

A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date was set for December 14, 2012. The defendant was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing.

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