Felon Caught with Gun on Property

A West Virginia man has pleaded guilty to a federal gun crime, authorities announced.

Ralph Floyd Barnett, Jr., 61, of Birch River, was arrested in August 2019 after deputies with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Office responded to his residence following a series of 911 calls, including one in which he threatened to shoot somebody.

Deputies subsequently recovered a .22 caliber handgun from a chicken coop located on Barnett’s property after hearing gunshots as they approached the residence.

Barnett admitted that he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of his prior felony conviction for the federal crime of aiding and abetting in maintaining a drug premises.

He pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a felon and faces up to 10 years in prison when sentenced on October 21, 2021 before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.

The investigation was led by the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with Assistant U.S. Attorney prosecuting the case.

‘I want to commend the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Office and the ATF for their dedication to keeping our communities safe,’ said Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia, and related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00066.

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