Mason County Man Pleads Guilty

A 69-year-old man from Mason County in West Virginia has pleaded guilty to attempting to bring a dangerous weapon into a federal courthouse. Sidney Huddleston, III, was caught with a sword-type blade concealed in a cane while entering the Sidney L. Christie United States Courthouse and Federal Building in Huntington in April 2016.

According to court documents, Huddleston was approaching the security screening station with a cane when a court security officer discovered the concealed blade. The blade was approximately 14 inches in length and was accessible by unscrewing the handle of the cane from the shaft.

Huddleston was detained and provided a statement to an officer, admitting that he knew the cane concealed the blade. The United States Marshals Service conducted the investigation, and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

Chief United States District Judge Robert C. Chambers held the plea hearing, where Huddleston entered his guilty plea to attempted possession of a dangerous weapon in a federal court facility. Huddleston faces up to two years in federal prison when he is sentenced on May 1, 2017.

The incident took place on April 12, 2016, when Huddleston entered the federal courthouse in Huntington and approached the security screening station. He informed a court security officer that he was there to see his probation officer.

The United States Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, Carol Casto, announced the guilty plea. Huddleston’s sentence is set for May 1, 2017, and he could face up to two years in prison. The investigation was conducted by the United States Marshals Service, and Assistant United States Attorney Joseph F. Adams is handling the prosecution.

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