Harley Harkness, Unlawful Possession of Firearms, New Mexico 2013

Harley Harkness, 41, of Roswell, New Mexico, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison for his unlawful possession of firearms. Harkness will be on supervised release for two years after he completes his prison sentence. The sentencing took place on an unspecified date.

The charges against Harkness arose out of a domestic violence incident on January 13, 2013. On that day, Roswell Police officers responded to a domestic violence call from Harkness's wife, who reported that Harkness hit her and pointed a firearm at her. When the officers executed a search warrant at the Harkness residence in Roswell, they found a .22 caliber rifle, two loaded pistols, and ammunition.

In June 2013, Harkness pled guilty to a felony information charging him with being a felon in possession of a firearm and admitted that he unlawfully possessed the rifle and two pistols on January 13, 2013, in Chaves County, New Mexico.

The federal charges against Harkness were investigated by the Roswell office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Roswell Police Department, and were prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney's Las Cruces Branch Office.

Harkness was prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition because he previously had been convicted of the following offenses in the 5th Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico: residential burglary and tampering with evidence in October 2001 and battery against a household member in October 2003.

The case highlights the severe consequences for individuals who possess firearms illegally, particularly those with prior convictions.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-nm/pr/roswell-man-sentenced-prison-unlawful-possession-firearms