Joliet Man Arraigned in Federal Court
Brent Michael Waller, 42, of Joliet, appeared in person in custody before Magistrate Judge Timothy J. Cavan in Federal District Court in Billings on charges of Felon in Possession of a Firearm. If convicted of the most serious crime, Waller faces a maximum of 15 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervised release.
According to the affidavit, the case arises from a traffic stop on November 30, 2023, in Joliet involving a 2007 Peterbilt semi-truck. Two Carbon County Sheriff’s deputies (three if you count K9 Deputy Beth) pulled over the semi for a traffic violation when Deputy Beth alerted her handler to drugs at the passenger side door of the vehicle. In addition, the other deputy “reported seeing a semi-automatic pistol on the passenger floorboard in plain view.”
A search warrant was applied for and granted which resulted in the participation of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and seizure of one pistol, one rifle, one suspected silencer/suppressor, ammunition and drug paraphernalia. A further search warrrant executed on December 1 at Waller’s residence resulted in the seizure of an additional two rifles, one shotgun and two suspected silencers/suppressors.
After determining that Waller had previously been convicted of a felony (stemming from three charged counts of assault with a weapon in Carbon County), new charges were determined and filed. He appeared on December 5 in Federal District Court for Arraignment on the charges and requested a Preliminary Hearing. The defendant remains in the custody of the U.S. Marshal Service pending further proceedings.
Thomas Godfrey of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Billings represented the government. Gillian Gosch of Federal Defenders of Montana represented the defendant.
Carbon County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case.