St. Petersburg Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Charge

Tampa, Florida – The grim pages of the Grimy Times are filled with a tale of a St. Petersburg man who has pleaded guilty to a firearm offense that could land him behind bars for a decade. Charles Parker Harrington III, 27, today admitted to being in possession of a firearm and ammunition despite his status as a convicted felon, a move that violates federal law.

Harrington’s saga began when an officer with the St. Petersburg Police Department pulled over a vehicle he was riding in on August 3, 2016. It was there, during a routine traffic stop, that the officer discovered a loaded .380 caliber pistol tucked away in Harrington’s pocket. The revelation of the weapon came as a shock, considering that at the time, Harrington was already prohibited from owning firearms under federal statutes.

According to court documents, the warrant that led to Harrington’s initial detention on August 3, 2016, had been outstanding. His illegal possession of the firearm was merely an addition to his burgeoning rap sheet. Today, facing a sentence that could reach up to ten years in federal prison, Harrington must now come to terms with the consequences of his actions.

This case has been brought to light thanks to the diligent work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the St. Petersburg Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Taylor G. Stout is spearheading the prosecution in what represents another victory for the Department of Justice’s “Project Safe Neighborhoods” Program – a nationwide strategy aimed at reducing gun violence.

United States Attorney A. Lee Bentley, III, along with Daryl R. McCrary, Special Agent in Charge of ATF, are leading the charge here in the Middle District of Florida, working hand-in-hand with federal, state, and local law enforcement to make communities safer from firearms-related crimes.

Harrington was indicted on October 19, 2016, setting the stage for his downfall. As his sentencing date looms, one thing is certain – the streets of St. Petersburg will be a little bit safer without this felon in their midst.