Timothy Hopkins, Felon in Possession of Firearm, Missouri 2019

St. Louis, MO – Grimy Times Exclusive

Two men pleaded guilty to their respective roles in illegally possessing firearms stolen from a Jefferson County patrol vehicle. Timothy Hopkins, 43, of O’Fallon, MO, and Richard O’Hara, 30, of Richwoods, MO, each pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. The plea was accepted by U.S. District Judge John A. Ross on August 27, 2019.

According to court documents, Hopkins, a previously convicted felon, was arrested by a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputy after leaving a gas station without paying for gasoline on June 20, 2018. The deputy identified Hopkins as having an active arrest warrant and placed him in the front passenger seat of the patrol car. However, Hopkins managed to maneuver his handcuffs to the front, slid over to the driver’s seat, and fled the scene by stealing the deputy’s patrol car.

The stolen patrol car contained a 12-gauge shotgun, an AR-15, and firearm magazines. Hopkins proceeded on a joy ride in the car, arriving at a residential home near Richwoods, Missouri, where co-defendant James Martin was temporarily living. Hopkins gave Martin the 12-gauge shotgun and the AR-15, and Martin, in turn, transferred the AR-15 to Richard O’Hara, also a previously convicted felon.

Air and ground units from multiple law enforcement agencies were engaged in the search for Hopkins. He was eventually located on a dead-end street, where he crashed the stolen patrol car in a ditch. Hopkins escaped the vehicle by climbing through a window, but tripped on debris and fell to the ground, enabling deputies to place him into custody.

Hopkins faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a fine of not more than $250,000. He could receive both a prison sentence and a fine. In determining the actual sentences, a Judge is required to consider the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines, which provide recommended sentencing ranges.

Co-defendant James Martin pled guilty in March 2019 to possession of a stolen firearm/ammunition and will be sentenced on June 27, 2019.

The case was investigated by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Jason Dunkel is handling the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

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