Shaver Gets a Year for Stolen Heat

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Michael Andrew Christopher Shaver, 23, of Grafton, West Virginia, is headed to federal prison after being sentenced today for illegally possessing a firearm he stole nearly a decade ago. The sentence, handed down in federal court, adds another year to the time Shaver is already serving.

According to Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen, Shaver pilfered a 40 caliber firearm back in November 2015 from Harrison County, West Virginia. The theft went unaddressed for a year before Shaver finally faced the music, entering a guilty plea in November 2016 to one count of “Possession of a Stolen Firearm.” The details surrounding the initial theft – where and how the gun was taken – remain murky, but the feds finally closed the case.

U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley delivered the 12-month sentence, and crucially, ordered it to run consecutively to Shaver’s existing state sentence. This means Shaver won’t get any time shaved off his current state incarceration; the federal year will be added on at the end. A clear message to anyone thinking of fencing stolen goods in the Mountain State.

Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Perri led the prosecution, building the case against Shaver. The investigation was a multi-agency effort, involving the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Taylor County Sheriff’s Department, and even the Veteran Affairs Police Department. It took years, but they finally got their man.

While the original theft occurred in 2015 and the plea was entered in 2016, the case lingered in the system, a testament to the backlog plaguing the federal courts. It also highlights the ATF’s long reach – they don’t forget a stolen gun, even years later. Shaver’s case is a stark reminder that possessing stolen firearms carries serious federal consequences.

Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on any further developments. The full sentencing memorandum and details of Shaver’s original state charges are not yet publicly available, but we will update this story as that information comes to light. This case underscores the ongoing battle against illegal firearms trafficking in West Virginia and the commitment of federal agencies to holding offenders accountable.

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