Kevin Nicholas Munroe, Domestic Violence, West Virginia 2024

Berkeley County Man Admits to Federal Domestic Violence Charges

A Martinsburg man has been held accountable for violating a domestic violence protective order, despite it being issued on the other side of the country.

Kevin Nicholas Munroe, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty on April 25, 2024, to federal domestic violence charges. Munroe was found in Martinsburg with a .45 caliber revolver, despite being prohibited from having firearms due to an active domestic violence protective order against him filed in Los Angeles, California.

According to court documents and statements made in court, West Virginia State Police were investigating a shooting that led to Munroe's arrest. The charges against Munroe include possession of a firearm by a person subject to a domestic violence protective order, and interstate violation of a protective order.

“Those who violate protective orders will be held accountable, regardless of where the order was issued,” said U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld. “Due to the excellent work of the West Virginia State Police, Mr. Munroe faces a long prison sentence for violating an order issued on the other side of the country.”

Munroe faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and up to five years for the protective order violation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was prosecuted as a part of the Northern District of West Virginia's Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative, formed in early 2023 to protect domestic violence victims, take dangerous criminals off the streets, and enhance community safety.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.

In a statement, U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld emphasized the importance of holding individuals accountable for violating protective orders. With the Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative in place, law enforcement and the justice system are working together to keep communities safe.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndwv/pr/berkeley-county-man-admits-federal-domestic-violence-charges