A Craven County man received a 10-year prison sentence for shooting a sheriff’s deputy, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.
Robert Joseph Westrup, 43, of Craven County, was sentenced to the statutory maximum of 120 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a felon in connection with the shooting of a Craven County Sheriff’s deputy on October 1, 2021.
The shooting, which involved a gun battle, left the deputy paralyzed from the waist down. Westrup pled guilty on November 3, 2023.
“Westrup’s federal prosecution is just one example of our commitment to seeking justice for those who serve and put themselves in the line of fire every day to keep our communities safe,” said U.S. Attorney Michael Easley. “Those who seek to harm the brave men and women in law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
Craven County Sheriff Chip Hughes commended the quick and heroic actions of fellow Craven County deputies, who prevented further tragedy. “While nothing can undo the harm caused by this defendant, this active prison sentence obtained by the U.S. Attorney’s Office serves as notice that crimes against law enforcement will not go unpunished,” Hughes said.
Westrup was previously convicted of possession of pseudoephedrine with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime in 2005. He is currently charged in Craven County with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, four counts of assault on a law enforcement officer with a firearm, and possession of a firearm by a felon, related to the same incident.
The Craven County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Aubart prosecuting the case. U.S. District Court Louise W. Flanagan sentenced Westrup.
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Key Facts
- State: North Carolina
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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