MT: Hunting incident leads to prison sentence for Anaconda man

https://www.news-journal.com/hunting-incident-leads-to-prison-sentence-for-anaconda-man/article_635e070e-b067-5cb3-8d1e-ce4f65c694c6.html

05/15/2025

An Anaconda man who admitted to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm was sentenced Thursday in Missoula federal court to 18 months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release, officials from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Montana said.

Keegan Allan Strelnik, 42, pleaded guilty to the charge in January.

On Sept. 26, 2019, Strelnik was convicted in federal court of possession with the intent of distributing methamphetamine and sentenced to 41 months of imprisonment and four years of supervised release. He was also prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme said.

On Nov. 24, 2023, Strelnik went hunting in Granite County, and was captured on a game camera in possession of a hunting rifle. According to court documents, Strelnik tried to remove the camera’s memory card.

A witness later submitted a written statement that during the hunting expedition, Strelnik possessed the rifle, including using the rifle to fire at an elk, officials said.

The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Probation Office, and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

U.S. District Judge Dana L. Christensen presided.