MADISON - A Brooklyn man who stole his mother's handgun and ammunition and traded them for heroin was sentenced Tuesday in federal court to three years in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Jason I. Kestler, 36, was brought up in a financially stable family and developed a good work history and marketable skills, but by 21 years of age he was abusing drugs and alcohol which lead to his problems with the law, his attorney Joseph Bugni said.
Kestler had five Operating While Intoxicated convictions and was on probation in Sauk and Columbia counties for possessing narcotics and false imprisonment last December when the drug dealer he traded the handgun to turned him in, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz.
Bugni said Kestler's real crime was stealing to support his drug habit and he is not the typical felon-in-possession defendant who uses a gun to protect himself and his drug stash from gang members.
Bugni sought an 18-month sentence for his client, saying that would be sufficient time for Kestler to sober up while in prison and break his cycle of drug-related offenses.
"Kestler has been in continuous custody since Jan. 9, 2015 - not a day of which counts towards his federal sentence ... (An) 18- month term ... will protect the public from his crimes and his drug-fueled behavior ... (and allow him to reflect) on his past and what he needs to do to ... salvage the rest of his life," Bugni wrote the court.
Kestler stated that he is an expert with slate, copper, rubber and cedar roofing and siding but is also "a party animal."
District Judge William Conley asked him why he has not confronted his addiction issues and why he believes he would do so now.
"Until you confront it, you won't hit (rock) bottom," Conley told him.
Kestler said he did not want to admit that he had an addiction problem but now feels a sense of relief that it's disclosed and does not have to hide it anymore.
"I don't want to be part of that problem ... I want to be over this," he said.
Conley sentenced Kestler within advisory guidelines saying his unchecked appetite for drugs and alcohol and a willingness to drive poses a "danger to the community."
Conley acknowledged that Kestler did not use the firearm in this case for a violent purpose but it was still used in connection with an unlawful drug and his prison sentence partly reflects Kestler's "long slide" into behavior that threatens public safety.
Kestler's state probation was revoked after being charged in federal court for being a felon in possession. Kestler will serve the four months remaining on his state sentence before beginning his three-year federal sentence, which is to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Kestler's prosecution was part of increased enforcement of gun-related offenses under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program first funded in 2001.
Jarsoz said the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin is one of the jurisdictions to receive additional staffing to bring more cases in an effort to reduce gun violence.
Jason I. Kestler, 36, was brought up in a financially stable family and developed a good work history and marketable skills, but by 21 years of age he was abusing drugs and alcohol which lead to his problems with the law, his attorney Joseph Bugni said.
Kestler had five Operating While Intoxicated convictions and was on probation in Sauk and Columbia counties for possessing narcotics and false imprisonment last December when the drug dealer he traded the handgun to turned him in, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Jarosz.
Bugni said Kestler's real crime was stealing to support his drug habit and he is not the typical felon-in-possession defendant who uses a gun to protect himself and his drug stash from gang members.
Bugni sought an 18-month sentence for his client, saying that would be sufficient time for Kestler to sober up while in prison and break his cycle of drug-related offenses.
"Kestler has been in continuous custody since Jan. 9, 2015 - not a day of which counts towards his federal sentence ... (An) 18- month term ... will protect the public from his crimes and his drug-fueled behavior ... (and allow him to reflect) on his past and what he needs to do to ... salvage the rest of his life," Bugni wrote the court.
Kestler stated that he is an expert with slate, copper, rubber and cedar roofing and siding but is also "a party animal."
District Judge William Conley asked him why he has not confronted his addiction issues and why he believes he would do so now.
"Until you confront it, you won't hit (rock) bottom," Conley told him.
Kestler said he did not want to admit that he had an addiction problem but now feels a sense of relief that it's disclosed and does not have to hide it anymore.
"I don't want to be part of that problem ... I want to be over this," he said.
Conley sentenced Kestler within advisory guidelines saying his unchecked appetite for drugs and alcohol and a willingness to drive poses a "danger to the community."
Conley acknowledged that Kestler did not use the firearm in this case for a violent purpose but it was still used in connection with an unlawful drug and his prison sentence partly reflects Kestler's "long slide" into behavior that threatens public safety.
Kestler's state probation was revoked after being charged in federal court for being a felon in possession. Kestler will serve the four months remaining on his state sentence before beginning his three-year federal sentence, which is to be followed by three years of supervised release.
Kestler's prosecution was part of increased enforcement of gun-related offenses under the Project Safe Neighborhoods program first funded in 2001.
Jarsoz said the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin is one of the jurisdictions to receive additional staffing to bring more cases in an effort to reduce gun violence.