A Worland man accused of having a modified Glock 9 mm pistol has been charged by a Wyoming grand jury with possession of an illegal machine gun, and possession of an unregistered short-barreled rifle.
Steven Shobert, 48, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for Wyoming in Casper, according to his court file. He is detained in federal custody at the prosecutor’s request and after a magistrate made findings Wednesday that Shobert may flee justice or pose a safety risk to the community.
If convicted, Shobert faces up to 20 years in prison, 10 years for each possession charge, and up to $500,000 in fines.
The indictment doesn’t give details about the evidence or Shobert’s arrest.
The indictment’s first count alleges that Shobert possessed a 9 mm Glock modified by a Glock Switch to rapid-fire rounds with a single pull of the trigger, and that he owned three “AR-15-type machinegun conversion devices.”
The second count claims Shobert possessed an Aero Precision model M4E1 short-barreled rifle that wasn’t registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record as federal law requires.
The grand jury’s indictment was filed Nov. 15, but the case was kept from the public during its preliminary phase.
Shobert’s warrant return says an agent arrested him Dec. 5 at the Sheridan VA Medical Center.
His jury trial is set for Jan. 29 in Casper.
Clair McFarland can be reached at clair@cowboystatedaily.com.
