Man accused of having sawed-off shotgun pleads guilty

An Idaho Falls man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possession of an unregistered firearm after authorities said he had a sawed-off shotgun.

On Feb. 21, 2012, Idaho Falls police received reports that Timothy Scott Murphy, 24, was in possession of a sawed-off shotgun. Officers located Murphy at a house in Idaho Falls.

Murphy left the house carrying a sawed-off shotgun, but when he saw the officers he retreated back into the house. Other occupants of the house were evacuated. After a four-hour standoff, Murphy surrendered.

Police found the gun in a bathroom inside the house. According to an indictment filed in May of last year, the barrel length of the Maverick 12-gauge shotgun was about 16 inches; the minimum legal length is 18 inches.

The government is seeking forfeiture of the firearm, According to a news release from U.S. Attorney Wendy J. Olson,

Sentencing is set for June 17 before Chief U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill at the federal courthouse in Pocatello.

The charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, a maximum fine of $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release.