LITTLE ROCK — Testimony in the Randeep Mann trial on Wednesday centered on two weapons counts against the Russellville physician, who is accused of plotting a bombing that severely injured the chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board.
The weapons charges reflect a shotgun and a machine gun seized from Mann, a weapons collector who holds a federal firearms dealer license. Authorities allege that the two guns were not properly registered and were illegally possessed.
On Tuesday, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives program manager Gary Schaible testified that the two guns in question were not among 114 registered in Mann's name with the bureau, which oversees a national registry of firearms.
But defense attorney Blake Hendrix pointed out the machine gun didn't have to be registered before a law change that went into effect in 2001. He suggested it's conceivable a "busy doctor" like Mann might innocently neglect to file the new paperwork.
Hendrix also argued that transfer paperwork filed when Mann first took possession of the guns showed he wasn't trying to hide anything and that the bureau was aware of the weapons.
A 1986 change in gun control laws limited machine gun possession to law enforcement, government agencies or dealers who intended to demonstrate or sell the weapon to police, Schaible testified.
A letter from the Laclede County Sheriff's Office included with Mann's 2001 transfer explained the agency was interested in having Mann demonstrate the weapon to them "in an effort to expand (the agency's) resources."
Schaible said the bureau does not follow-up to see if such demonstrations actually occur.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Gordon said if no demonstration took place, it amounted to a fraudulent letter and "thus a fraudulent transfer."
Mann is accused of masterminding the Feb. 4, 2009 bombing that injured Dr. Trent Pierce outside his West Memphis home. Authorities say the attack was planned in response to ongoing problems between Mann and the board, which had stripped his license to prescribe controlled substances and was conducting an investigation that could have cost him his medical license.
Mann was arrested on the weapons charges before being indicted in the bombing.