Springfield Man Facing Federal Firearms Charges
SPRINGFIELD TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – A Springfield man is facing federal firearms charges after a recent incident involving the use of an assault rifle, announced U.S. Attorney Don Cochran of the Middle District of Tennessee.
“Some people just aren’t getting the message when it comes to violent gun crime,” said U.S. Attorney Cochran. “The U.S. Attorney’s Office and our local, state and federal law enforcement partners have mounted an all-out assault on violent crime. As evidenced here, when we bring federal charges for firearms offenses, we intend to seek justice swiftly – and that includes long prison sentences with no parole.”
On June 11, 2018, Raphael Mandez Utley, 32, of Springfield, Tennessee, was charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm after Springfield police officers responded to a fight and shots being fired call on May 27, 2018.
Responding officers allege they saw Utley standing next to a vehicle and holding a rifle over the roof of the car. Officers also heard Utley allegedly exclaim, “Yeah, we gonna shoot the police, b—ch.” When the officers turned around to approach Utley, he fled on foot and was apprehended a short distance away. Springfield police officers recovered a loaded AK-47 style assault rifle in the bushes near the place they had initially observed Utley.
Utley was found to have previously been convicted of voluntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and reckless endangerment in Robertson County, Tennessee.
Utley faces up to (at least) 10 years in prison if convicted. His bond has been set at $510, 500.
Charges in these cases are merely accusations. The defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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