Douglas T. Murphy, Felon in Possession of a Firearm, Wisconsin 2023

OSHKOSH, WI – Douglas T. Murphy, 35, of Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is facing a lengthy federal prison sentence after a jury convicted him of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The conviction stems from a harrowing June 4th-5th incident where Murphy allegedly terrorized a family inside a downtown Oshkosh residence, escalating to physical violence.

According to court documents, Murphy repeatedly brandished a loaded Cobra .380 caliber handgun at multiple children within the home. The situation devolved into a brutal assault on the children’s mother, whom Murphy allegedly struck with the firearm – a so-called “pistol whip” – causing an open wound to her scalp. The desperate situation prompted a 911 call from the children, initiating a nearly six-hour standoff with Oshkosh law enforcement.

The standoff finally ended around 6:00 a.m. when the Oshkosh Police Department SWAT Team executed a tactical entry into the residence. Murphy was taken into custody, and the loaded handgun was discovered near his location. Investigators later learned Murphy was no stranger to the criminal justice system, with prior felony convictions in Waukesha, Manitowoc, and Winnebago counties.

Federal prosecutors presented evidence to a jury in Green Bay, Wisconsin, successfully arguing that Murphy violated Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 922(g)(1), the federal law prohibiting felons from possessing firearms. The jury returned a guilty verdict on December 14, 2023. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Schindhelm and Daniel R. Humble are prosecuting the case.

Murphy now faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison when Senior U.S. District Judge William C. Griesbach hands down the sentence in March 2024. He will remain in custody pending that hearing. The investigation was a collaborative effort between the Oshkosh Police Department, the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

U.S. Attorney Gregory J. Haanstad for the Eastern District of Wisconsin announced the conviction, but details regarding the motive behind the alleged assault remain scarce. Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments as they unfold. The incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by illegally possessed firearms and the dangers faced by law enforcement responding to volatile domestic situations.

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