Mentally Defective Man Busted with Loaded 9mm in Burlington

SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT – Randy McEntee, 20, is facing federal charges after being caught with a loaded 9mm pistol at the intersection of Shelburne Road and Prospect Parkway on December 15, 2016. The arrest, a joint effort by federal and local law enforcement, shines a harsh light on the intersection of mental health and access to firearms.

According to court documents, McEntee has been under the legal guardianship of his mother since May 2014 due to significant mental health and developmental issues – a legal status that explicitly prohibits him from possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law. Despite this, authorities say McEntee was actively documenting his fascination with handguns and shooting on social media, preserving evidence in the form of Facebook posts and photographs.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) began investigating after receiving reports of concerning threats and online activity. Agents observed McEntee riding his bicycle from his Farrell Street home to Shelburne Road. A subsequent search revealed a loaded Hi-Point 9mm Luger pistol tucked inside his pants pocket. The South Burlington Police Department assisted in the detention.

A search warrant executed at McEntee’s home, shared with his mother and legal custodian, turned up a disturbing cache of ammunition. Fifty rounds of 9mm were found in what is believed to be his mother’s bedroom, while another loose round and 32 additional rounds, along with a Hi-Point firearm box, were recovered from a drawer in McEntee’s bedroom. The proximity of the ammo to the defendant’s living space raises serious questions.

McEntee appeared in District Court in Burlington on December 15 and entered a plea of not guilty to the federal complaint charging him with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a mentally defective person. Following a hearing on December 19, Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered McEntee detained, citing the potential risk to public safety. If convicted, McEntee faces up to ten years in federal prison, though the final sentence will be determined by the court based on Federal Sentencing Guidelines.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Abigail Averbach is prosecuting the case, while McEntee is being represented by the Office of the Federal Public Defender. The ATF continues to investigate. It’s crucial to remember that these are merely allegations at this stage, and McEntee is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This case underscores the complex challenges of balancing Second Amendment rights with the need to protect vulnerable individuals and the public from potential harm.