Post by Okwes on Dec 21, 2006 13:49:52 GMT -5
Tribal councilman gets jail time
By:
11/30/2006
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By TRACY KENNEDY
Register Citizen Staff
BANTAM - A council member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation was sentenced to serve 45 days in jail Thursday by a Bantam Superior Court judge for carrying a pistol without a permit on the Schaghticoke Indian reservation in Kent.
Anthony Crone, 43, 60 Euclid Ave., Stratford, who is the nephew of Schaghticoke Tribal Nation head Richard Velky, pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea bargain in which he agreed to a year of a three-year suspended sentence and three years on probation. His attorney was allowed to argue for a lesser sentence.
Crone brought a Colt Commander automatic pistol to the reservation Feb. 7 and took it out of his truck during what Supervisory State's Attorney Andrew Wittstein called "a volatile situation." Two tribes, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe led by Alan Russell, who lives on the property, have had numerous confrontations as they both seek federal recognition for their tribes.
Velky apparently sent Crone to talk to Russell and his group about an electric bill for a trailer that was using power from the tribal meeting house that was paid for by Velky.
Crone said he thought he was permitted to have a weapon on an Indian reservation, but since neither tribe has received recognition, there are no rules on weapons possession and Crone must abide by state firearms regulations.
"He armed himself and that was unacceptable," Wittstein said.
The prosecutor said he was perplexed why Crone, who owned the 45-caliber pistol since 1992, felt he was the only resident in the state who didn't need a permit.
"Everyone in the state of Connecticut is required to have a permit," Crone said.
Crone, who served in Libya and Beirut in the Marines and later as a drill instructor, was an honest and decent man, Velky told Judge Richard Marano.
"He is a peaceable person now," Velky said. "He does carpet installation and home repairs."
Crone's lack of a criminal record and his background tempered the sentence.
"But I think some period of incarceration is warranted," Marano said.
Tracy Kennedy can be reached by e-mail at courts@registercitizen.com.
By:
11/30/2006
Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendly
By TRACY KENNEDY
Register Citizen Staff
BANTAM - A council member of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation was sentenced to serve 45 days in jail Thursday by a Bantam Superior Court judge for carrying a pistol without a permit on the Schaghticoke Indian reservation in Kent.
Anthony Crone, 43, 60 Euclid Ave., Stratford, who is the nephew of Schaghticoke Tribal Nation head Richard Velky, pleaded guilty to the charge as part of a plea bargain in which he agreed to a year of a three-year suspended sentence and three years on probation. His attorney was allowed to argue for a lesser sentence.
Crone brought a Colt Commander automatic pistol to the reservation Feb. 7 and took it out of his truck during what Supervisory State's Attorney Andrew Wittstein called "a volatile situation." Two tribes, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe led by Alan Russell, who lives on the property, have had numerous confrontations as they both seek federal recognition for their tribes.
Velky apparently sent Crone to talk to Russell and his group about an electric bill for a trailer that was using power from the tribal meeting house that was paid for by Velky.
Crone said he thought he was permitted to have a weapon on an Indian reservation, but since neither tribe has received recognition, there are no rules on weapons possession and Crone must abide by state firearms regulations.
"He armed himself and that was unacceptable," Wittstein said.
The prosecutor said he was perplexed why Crone, who owned the 45-caliber pistol since 1992, felt he was the only resident in the state who didn't need a permit.
"Everyone in the state of Connecticut is required to have a permit," Crone said.
Crone, who served in Libya and Beirut in the Marines and later as a drill instructor, was an honest and decent man, Velky told Judge Richard Marano.
"He is a peaceable person now," Velky said. "He does carpet installation and home repairs."
Crone's lack of a criminal record and his background tempered the sentence.
"But I think some period of incarceration is warranted," Marano said.
Tracy Kennedy can be reached by e-mail at courts@registercitizen.com.