YAKIMA, Wash. – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced Wednesday that a Yakima man will spend two years in prison for possessing over a dozen firearms while under a court order.
According to a press release, on July 23, 2022, Yakima Police were sent to the home of Benjamin Cliett, 44, for reports of screaming and other loud noises.
Due to Cliett being under a domestic violence no contact order, YPD entered the home to find his partner inside. Cliett was found hiding in a doghouse in the backyard and was arrested for violating the court order.
YPD later discovered a gun safe in the bedroom and returned later with a search warrant to find 18 guns inside, along with ammunition and magazines across the home.
ATF Special Agent in Charge Jonathan Blais said due to the no contact order, Cliett was not allowed to have access to firearms.
“Victims of domestic violence often feel trapped in abusive relationships, where they face higher risks of being shot or killed by their abuser than the general public,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Richard Barker. “This is why it is so important to enforce laws that keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers—it really can save lives.”
Cliett’s sentence will be followed by three years of supervised release.
