Birnamwood man facing illegal firearms charges

A Birnamwood man has been indicted for illegally receiving two firearms after making false statements to a firearms dealer.

According to an indictment filed Dec. 6 in federal court, Landon J. Now, 32, previously of Antigo, received an AR-15 rifle on May 28 and a Colt .45 pistol on April 22. The indictment also alleged that he made false statements on an Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms form on May 28 that he wasn’t currently charged with a felon offense, and that he was actual buyer and wasn’t obtaining a firearm for another person.

Charges of substantial battery and manufacturing or delivery of marijuana were filed in Langlade County against Now on Aug. 16, 2019. He pleaded not guilty the charges and has been released on a signature bond. However, the charges remain pending. No trial date has been set in the case.

Now was initially indicted in federal court on similar charges on July 19. That indictment alleged he obtained the AR-15 from Locke, Stocke and Barrell, a firearms dealer in Antigo.

Some technical changes were included in the Dec. 6 indictment after Keith Ellison, Now’s attorney, contested them.

Portions of the Dec. 6 indictment were redacted, and the gun dealer wasn’t mentioned. That indictment seeks the forfeiture of nine firearms including the Colt. 45 and the AR-15.

If convicted, Now faces maximum statutory penalties of 10 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.

Now owns a construction company, according to his Facebook page.