Franklin Felon Pleads Guilty to Gun Possession

ERIE, Pa. – A grim reminder of the dangers posed by felons with illegal firearms came as Phillip John Dechant, 39, of Franklin, Pennsylvania, stood before United States District Judge Susan Paradise Baxter and pleaded guilty to violating federal firearms laws.

The court was informed that on April 22, 2020, Dechant, a resident of 739 Buffalo Street in Franklin, was caught with numerous firearms, despite his status as a convicted felon. His plea agreement spells out a sentence of forty (40) months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release.

Judge Baxter has set June 8, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. for the sentencing hearing. The law allows for a maximum penalty of ten years in prison, a $250,000 fine, or both.

Pending his sentencing, Dechant remains on bond. Assistant United States Attorney Christian A. Trabold is handling the prosecution of this case for the government.

The investigation that led to Dechant’s arrest was conducted by the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), an agency committed to curbing violent crime and gun violence through Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). The program focuses on fostering trust in communities and supports initiatives aimed at preventing violence before it occurs.

Project Safe Neighborhoods, relaunched with a strategic violent crime reduction strategy on May 26, 2021, centers on community engagement, targeted enforcement, and results measurement. Dechant’s case is a stark example of the program’s commitment to making neighborhoods safer for everyone.

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