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The Pima County Attorney's Gun Unit prosecutes
firearms cases with a focus on prosecuting
violent
and
repetitive
offenders
who use or possess firearms.
In 2002, the Pima County Attorney’s
Office received a federal grant under Project
Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods
is a nationwide commitment
to reduce gun crime in America by networking both new and existing local programs
that target gun crime.
The grant provided funding to allow four prosecutors to devote solely to the
prosecution of firearms cases. In 2003, 150 defendants were sentenced in cases
prosecuted by the gun unit. Of those 150 defendants, 100 of them were sentenced
to prison terms for a total of over 340 years. The remaining were placed on probation.
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| Project
Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide
commitment to reduce gun
crime in America by networking existing
local programs that target gun crime
and providing those programs with
additional tools necessary to be
successful. Following are a few local
success stories as a result of
this program. |
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Tony Dewayne Smith
CR-20031152
Officers went to the defendant’s
home to arrest him on a probation
warrant. Not only was the defendant
on probation, but had 2 prior felony
convictions as
well. The defendant ran from police but was subsequently apprehended. A .44 caliber
revolver was found during search of his house after his arrest. The defendant
was convicted (after a trial) of being in possession of a deadly weapon while
being a prohibited possessor and was sentenced to 4.5 years in prison. |
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Chester Jacobs CR-20023161
A passing motorist called 911 to report that the defendant was in his car pointing
guns towards his own windshield. Tucson Police stopped the defendant, who had
three prior felony convictions and was on parole. The defendant had a total of
seven guns in the car.
Despite many requests from the Defense, the Prosecutor refused to offer a plea
agreement and the case proceeded to trial. He was convicted on April 15, 2003.
On May 20, 2003, a judged sentenced Jacobs to an aggravated term of 12 years
in prison. At sentencing, the defendant expressed his surprise at the amount
of time he was facing when he said he “couldn’t believe how much
time he was getting just for having guns". |
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Israel
Madrid CR-20020015
Defendant had no prior adult
felony convictions, but was prohibited
from possessing weapons due to
having been an adjudicated delinquent.
The defendant shot and killed his
13 year old cousin while playing
with a gun while he was under the
influence of marijuana. The defendant
was convicted of second degree
murder, possessing a weapon while
being a prohibited possessor, and
possession of marijuana and is
now serving 16 years in prison. |
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If
you are a victim of crime and need further assistance
please contact The Pima County Attorney's Victim
Witness Program at
(520) 740-5525. |
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