EVANSVILLE, IN – James Charleston Jr., 36, is headed to federal prison for five years after a brazen display of recklessness on a quiet Evansville street. The sentence, handed down by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman, follows Charleston’s guilty plea to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person – a charge stemming from a disturbing August 3rd incident on Garvin Street.
Evansville Police Department officers responded to reports of a man wildly waving a silver handgun and threatening passersby. Witnesses described Charleston shouting obscenities and making direct threats, escalating the situation rapidly. Upon arrival, officers found Charleston refusing to comply with orders to get on the ground, instead taunting them with chilling statements like, “I’m willing to die right now!” and “You better get me before I get you.”
The standoff ended with Charleston in handcuffs, and a search revealed the source of the terror: a loaded 9mm pistol tucked into his waistband, containing nine rounds of ammunition. This wasn’t a first offense. Charleston’s rap sheet is a litany of violent crimes, including two prior convictions for unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, alongside charges of carrying a handgun without a license, domestic battery, strangulation, aggravated robbery, identity theft, and failure to return to lawful detention. These convictions permanently stripped him of the right to own a firearm.
“Illegally armed, repeat violent criminals are responsible for a disproportionate share of the gun violence suffered in Evansville and all our communities. These offenses will not be tolerated,” stated Acting United States Attorney John E. Childress for the Southern District of Indiana. “Let it be clear that if you choose to illegally carry a firearm, you risk serving a serious sentence in federal prison.” The message is clear: Evansville won’t be a playground for armed felons.
The investigation was a joint effort between the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Evansville Police Department, highlighting the collaborative approach taken to combat gun violence in the region. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller skillfully prosecuted the case, securing the five-year sentence and a subsequent three years of supervised release for Charleston.
Charleston’s case serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by repeat offenders and the commitment of federal authorities to keep firearms out of the hands of those who would misuse them. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the ongoing efforts to curb violent crime in Evansville and beyond.
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Key Facts
- State: Indiana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Weapons|Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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