CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Following a three day trial, a Harrison County man convicted of multiple prior felonies was found guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm.
Joseph Garrett, 50, of Haywood, has previously convicted of multiple offenses in the Circuit Court of Marion County including Breaking and Entering in 1983, Third Degree Sexual Assault in 1988, and Second Degree Murder in 1998. As a result of these convictions, Garrett is prohibited from possessing firearms.
Evidence presented at trial revealed that in May, Garrett was in unlawful possession of a 12 gauge shotgun in Harrison County.
The jury on Friday found Garrett guilty of one count of being a Felon in Possession of Firearm, for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000 and one count of Possession of a NFA Firearm Not Registered to a Person in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, for which he faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
The Harrison County Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Shawn Morgan prosecuted the case on behalf of the government, while U.S. District Judge Irene M. Keeley presided.