Troy woman facing federal weapons charges

A Troy woman pleaded not guilty in federal district court in Missoula last week to charges of shipping weapons to Montana’s United States Senator, Jon Tester.

Cathleen Cantlon, 56, was arrested May 27 and charged with interstate mailing of a firearm and ammunition and possession of a firearm by a person who has been committed to a mental institution.

The federal grand jury indictment alleges Cantlon shipped two packages to the Washington, D.C., office of Sen. Tester. The packages were intercepted at the U.S. Senate mail facility in Landover, Md., during the screening process. An X-Ray revealed a handgun, a knife and an unknown liquid inside the packages.

Upon determination that no threat existed, the packages were opened by officers of the United States Capitol Police. The first package contained a loaded Taurus .22 handgun, a knife, pepper spray, 53 rounds of .22 ammunition, a holster and several miscellaneous papers. The second package held additional papers and an envelope with “Hazard contaminated/dirty bomb” written on the outside.

The letter accompanying the packages referenced banking and mental health issues, according to the probable cause affidavit. It was addressed to “Senator John Tester Homeland Security,” was signed by Cantlon with a Troy return address.

Federal investigators interviewed employees of the Troy store from which the packages were shipped. One employee remembered Cantlon, who she called Cathy, shipping the packages. The identification of Cantlon was confirmed by the store’s video surveillance system.

Investigators then contacted the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office and requested they interview Cantlon regarding the packages. According to the affidavit, when approached by Sheriff’s officers, Cantlon responded with expletives and told the officers to “get off my property.”

Further investigation turned up an incident report from October 2014 which detailed police seizing two firearms from Cantlon, which were then returned to her. One of the weapons seized was the Taurus .22 shipped to Tester.

If convicted, Cantlon could be fined up to $250,000 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for each of the two charges.

Her next court appearance is scheduled for July 8.