A Roswell man with a history of domestic violence and burglary has been caught with guns he shouldn’t have, a federal court heard Monday.
Harley Harkness, 40, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of firearms, a felony that carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. Harkness, who remains in custody, was found with two loaded pistols and ammunition at his Roswell residence on January 13, 2013.
According to court records, the incident that led to Harkness’s arrest was a domestic violence call from his wife, who reported he had hit her and pointed a firearm at her. When Roswell police officers executed a search warrant at the residence, they found the illegal guns.
Harkness’s history of convictions in the 5th Judicial District Court for the State of New Mexico includes residential burglary, tampering with evidence, and battery against a household member in 2001 and 2003 respectively.
The federal charges against Harkness arose out of this domestic violence incident. The guilty plea was entered without a plea agreement, and sentencing has yet to be scheduled.
The case was investigated by the Roswell office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Roswell Police Department, and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron O. Jordan of the U.S. Attorney’s Las Cruces Branch Office.
Harkness’s sentencing hearing is pending, but with a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison, he could face serious time. As a convicted felon, Harkness is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition, making his guilty plea a serious violation of the law.
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Key Facts
- State: New Mexico
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release ↗
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