Chezem gets 15 months in prison

MISSOULA - A former candidate for Flathead County sheriff and a member of the paramilitary group Project 7 was sentenced to prison Friday.

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy sentenced Larry Chezem to 15 months in federal prison and then immediately stayed imposition of the sentence while Chezem appeals his conviction.

He was found guilty by a jury last summer of conspiring to possess illegal weapons.

Molloy declared Chezem the least culpable of the six people sentenced in the conspiracy. Chezem, 54, was indicted on a single count, alleging one overt act in which he reportedly participated in the conspiracy to possess machine guns. Unlike the others, he did not participate in making or altering machine guns, purchasing parts, obliterating serial numbers, or taking an oath of allegiance, Molloy said.

Also in Chezem's favor is a clean criminal record.

"His criminal history is basically impeccable. He has nothing," Molloy said.

hezem also served twice in the military and was employed in community-service organizations.

He refused Project 7 leader David Burgert's request to tell the group where a deputy lives after Chezem did some satellite work at the deputy's house. Project 7 allegedly gathered information on officers, their families, and personal information.

"He can keep his own counsel," Molloy said of Chezem. "He is an honorable person."

Chezem thanked Molloy.

"I think you have in many instances looked out for my welfare," he said.

Chezem affirmed Molloy's opinion that Chezem has ideas that are "strange, but legal."

Chezem addressed the court Friday, saying he did not consent to being sentenced.

He continued to object to the charges against him, asserting that unless there is a specific injured person and not a governmental agency bringing the charges, they are invalid.

He was convicted on "hearsay by compromised or convicted witnesses," he said. In some cases, his co-conspirators' sentences were reduced for testifying against him.

Prosecuting Assistant U.S. Attorney Kris McLean reminded Molloy that the conspiracy was "very dangerous.

"We're all still wondering where Nadine is," McLean said, referring to the name that Chezem reportedly gave his machine gun.

"Somewhere, there's an automatic machine gun laying around," in Chezem's basement or near Glacier Park, McLean said.

Chezem, who represented himself at trial, referred to himself as "the accused" at sentencing. He told Molloy he understands how things work in the judicial system.

"In short, I know the rules of the game," he said, referring to things "kept in secret."

"I don't view anything we do here as a game," Molloy said.

He said the unconventional views of Project 7 were enflamed by terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

"I think every one of the people involved, particularly after 9/11, became paranoid," Molloy said. He speculated that government security alerts exacerbated that.

He was critical, too, of the media.

"The press had a propensity to turn the conduct of Mr. Burgert and a couple of others into a lively story" that they "blew out of proportion in regards to Mr. Chezem." Burgert faked his disappearance from law enforcement and was arrested after an armed standoff with authorities in February 2002.

"It's hard for me to gauge what [Chezem's] views are," Molloy said. They are anti-government, but not violent."

Even so, he rejected a motion by Chezem and his court-appointed attorney Wendy Holton of Helena, to sentence Chezem to only probation.

"This is a very serious offense," Molloy said.

He said he tried to align Chezem's sentence with the other conspirators. Burgert was sentenced to 87 months in prison. Tracy Brockway has served her sentence of 16 months in prison. James Day was sentenced to 33 months and Steve Morey received 22 months. John Slater was sentenced to time served after his arrest, plus 50 days.

Chezem originally faced 41 to 55 months in prison.

However, given consideration for having no prior criminal record and his "minimal" involvement in the group, federal sentencing guidelines recommended a sentence of 15 to 21 months.

Chezem has been out on supervised release since he was convicted last summer. He has complied with all the conditions of his release in Indiana, where he plans to return, pending the appeal of his conviction.

Molloy seemed to encourage Chezem.

"I think there are issues here that are legitimate," Molloy said. There are legal questions about "how far the conspiracy law can go.

"I don't deem any appeal in this case frivolous," he said.

Reporter Chery Sabol may be reached at 758-4441 or by e-mail at csabol@dailyinterlake.com