Polson man admits having illegal gun in drug stop

A Polson man pleaded guilty in federal district court in Missoula on Jan. 12 to one felony count of possession of a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.

Brett William Reum pleaded guilty as part of a plea agreement in which another felony count was dropped.

According to the federal government’s offer of proof, on Jan. 17, 2015, a Montana Highway Patrol trooper stopped Reum as the registered owner of a vehicle, after Reum appeared to be driving the vehicle despite having a suspended license and an active warrant. Dispatchers advised that Reum was flagged in the system as someone officers should proceed with caution toward because of a drug history.

Reum was arrested on the warrant and allegedly a plastic container with methamphetamine residue was found in his front pocket.

Reum’s vehicle was searched. Items found included drug-related items in the front-passenger area, and in the rear-passenger area a backpack with a digital scale that was lined with white residue, some small plastic baggies, and a Taurus, Model PT 2417 OSS DS, .40 caliber pistol. The pistol’s ammunition magazine was loaded, but a round had not been chambered. There were two extra ammunition magazines, one of which was fully loaded with ammunition. The pistol was stored in a holster.

Additionally, officers located a stolen Canon brand camera and a short-barreled shotgun. The Coast to Coast 12-gauge shotgun was located in a tool box, which was stored in the truck bed. The shotgun barrel was approximately 13 inches in length, with the shotgun’s overall length measured at 24 inches. Shotguns are required to be at least 26 inches long or be registered with the federal government.

Reum will be sentenced April 25 in Missoula.