Convicted Felon Sentenced to Federal Prison for Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition in the Deschutes National Forest

EUGENE, Ore.-A Bend, Oregon, man was sentenced to federal prison today for felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition after officers responded to gunfire in the Deschutes National Forest.

Cody Joe Hunt, 38, was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release.

According to court documents, on Feb. 13, 2025, U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officers responded to gunfire in the Deschutes National Forest near China Hat Road. Officers arrived to find Hunt fleeing into the woods, leaving behind an assault rifle and shell casings. They tracked him through the snow and discovered ammunition in his pockets matching the assault rifle. He was arrested on separate charges. A search warrant for Hunt's devices revealed additional evidence that he had possessed the rifle found in the woods in the preceding weeks after participating in its purchase at a local firearm dealer. Hunt is a convicted felon and is therefore prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

On Sept. 18, 2025, a federal grand jury in Eugene returned a two-count superseding indictment charging Hunt with felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition.

On Nov. 18, 2025, Hunt pleaded guilty to counts one and two.

The U.S. Forest Service investigated the case with support from the Deschutes County Digital Forensics Division. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. McLaren prosecuted the case.