November 20, 2009
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Guns still missing

51 guns Mason seized are unaccounted for.

By PHIL DAVIDSON

pdavidson@postregister.com


Though he was formerly charged with two counts of stealing guns from the Idaho Falls Police Department's evidence room, Kimball Mason took several more.

The Idaho attorney general's office was prepared to file 16 additional counts of grand theft against him for guns he pilfered, but those were dismissed as part of a plea agreement.

What's more, Police Chief J.K. Livsey said, a total of 51 guns Mason seized are unaccounted for, meaning nearly two-thirds of them could be in someone else's possession.

A report written by Mike Dillon, the attorney general's chief criminal investigator, determined that Mason took possession of 18 of those guns, some of which he sold, traded, kept or gave away.

Under Idaho code, guns seized by law enforcement officers during criminal arrests can be destroyed, converted for a department's use or sold to a licensed gun dealer with the revenue going to the department.

Dillon's investigation did not find any instances in which Mason disposed of a firearm pursuant to Idaho law.

Nine of the guns have been returned. Mason paid the city $8,200 on Tuesday to make up for the value of the other nine guns traced to him.

Livsey said he was going to match his records with the investigative report Dillon prepared to try to determine who has the rest of the guns. If someone is found with one, he or she could be charged with a felony for possession of stolen property.

But Mason did not steal just guns.

The attorney general's office says Mason kept $3,600 of the city's money through a scheme in which he paid himself a share of money confiscated from criminals. Mason said he had a right to the money. The city attorney said that's not the case.

Mason said he destroyed the other 33 guns, Livsey said, but the chief is skeptical.

The department is going to hire an outside auditor to review its evidence room.

"Kimball Mason scalped us," he said.

Cops and Courts reporter Phil Davidson can be reached at 542-6750.

Where are the weapons?

In its investigative report, the Idaho attorney general's office identified 18 guns stolen by former Idaho Falls prosecutor Kimball Mason, who was sentenced Tuesday on three felony counts related to the thefts.

Here is a list of the weapons Mason took and who got them:

Weapon: Intratec 9 mm semi-automatic pistol

Who got it: Kimball Mason traded it to Ski's House of Guns in Idaho Falls.

Weapon: Hi-Point semi-automatic pistol

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Glock .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Winchester .223-caliber rifle

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Ruger 9 mm semiautomatic pistol

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Ruger .357-caliber revolver

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Ruger .357-caliber revolver

Who got it: Ski's

Weapon: Llama Parabellum 9 mm semiautomatic

Who got it: Unknown. Mason traded it to someone, but the name is redacted from court documents.

Weapon: Ruger .22-caliber rifle with Busnell scope

Who got it: Mason

Weapon: Zastava 7.62X39 rifle

Who got it: Mason

Weapon: Berretta .40-caliber semiautomatic pistol

Who got it: Former Idaho Falls Police Department employee Todd Ericsson bought it for $200.

Weapon: Glock Model 19 9 mm semiautomatic and a box of ammunition

Who got it: John Stosich, an Idaho Falls attorney

Weapon: Hi-Point .380-caliber semiautomatic pistol

Who got it: Idaho Falls lawyer Darren Robins, a former Bonneville County deputy prosecutor

Weapon: Raven .25-caliber semiautomatic handgun

Who got it: Bonneville County Deputy Prosecutor Daniel Clark

Weapon: Raven .25-caliber handgun

Who got it: Jose Moreno, Bonneville County adult probation officer

Weapon: Lorcin 9 mm semiautomatic pistol

Who got it: Idaho Falls attorney Kelly Mallard

Weapon: Ruger .44-caliber Super Black Hawk revolver

Who got it: Stephen Blaser, a Blackfoot lawyer



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