Clarion Man Pleads Guilty to Illegal Possession of a Firearm in Federal Court
A Clarion man pled guilty Monday, March 11th to possessing a firearm by a prohibited person. 45-year-old, Michael Dean Hanus, Jr. was previously convicted of interference with official acts – dangerous weapon, which prohibits a person from possessing a firearm.
At the plea hearing, evidence showed that in October 2023, law enforcement in Wright County were investigating elder abuse. During the investigation, law enforcement received information that Hanus, Jr. possessed an AR-15 style rifle, at his father’s residence in Humboldt, where Hanus, Jr. had been living for some time. A law enforcement agent seized an HDR-15 rifle from Hanus Jr., and later determined that the firearm was stolen. Hanus, Jr. admitted to possession of the firearm, including his knowledge of his previous felony conviction, which prohibited his possession of any firearm.
Hanus, Jr. remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 15 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine and not more than three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
