A 25-year-old Alabama man with a criminal past is headed to federal prison after being caught with a firearm he had no legal right to possess. Skylar Tava Poellnitz, of Dixons Mill, pleaded guilty in September 2016 to being a felon in possession of a gun — a charge that carried a 24-month federal sentence.
Court records show Poellnitz had prior convictions for Theft of Property in the Second Degree and Possession of a Controlled Substance — disqualifying him from legally owning or carrying any firearm. Despite that, he was arrested and found in possession of a gun, triggering federal prosecution under strict gun control laws for prohibited persons.
U.S. District Judge Kristi K. Dubose handed down the 24-month prison term, followed by a mandatory three-year period of supervised release. During that time, Poellnitz will be subject to drug testing and court-ordered treatment for substance abuse — a condition tied directly to his criminal history and the nature of his offenses.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which routinely targets illegal gun possession in high-crime areas and among repeat offenders. Federal prosecutors treated the matter as a priority, emphasizing the danger posed when firearms end up in the hands of convicted felons.
Assistant United States Attorney Gloria Bedwell prosecuted the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Alabama. U.S. Attorney Kenyen R. Brown confirmed the sentencing, underscoring federal efforts to remove illegal guns from circulation and hold violators accountable.
As part of the judgment, Judge Dubose ordered Poellnitz to pay the mandatory $100 special assessment. No fine was imposed. Poellnitz will serve his sentence in federal custody, with credit for time already served, before transitioning to supervised release under strict federal oversight.
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