COEUR D'ALENE - Thomas Wade Callen, 52, of Sandpoint, Idaho, was sentenced today in United States District Court to 24 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for unlawful possession of firearms, U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson announced. Senior U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge also ordered Callen to serve 12 months in prison for violating his supervised release in a previous case. Callen pleaded guilty to the charge on August 18, 2015.
According to court documents, Callen admitted that although he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his previous felony convictions, he still was in possession of five firearms. Callen explained that he was teaching his girlfriend’s children gun safety when he possessed the firearms. Judge Lodge reminded Callen that as a felon he cannot possess firearms for any reason. The firearms Callen possessed will be forfeited.
The case was investigated by North Idaho Violent Crimes Task Force (NIVCTF).
The case was prosecuted as part of Idaho’s Project Safe Neighborhoods Program, which seeks to reduce gun violence in Idaho.