1125 Chapline Street, Federal Building, Suite 3000 ● Wheeling, WV 26003
(304) 234-0100 ● Contact: Fawn E. Thomas, Public Affairs Specialist

 

January 8, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Martinsville Resident Sentenced to 5+ Years on Firearms Charge

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA — A 32 year old New Martinsville, West Virginia, resident was sentenced today (January 8, 2009), in United States District Court in Wheeling by Judge Frederick P. Stamp, Jr.

United States Attorney Sharon L. Potter announced that WILLIAM HIGGINBOTHAM, JR. was sentenced to 63 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. HIGGINBOTHAM entered a plea of guilty on July 8, 2008, to one count of an Indictment charging him with unlawfully possessing a firearm and ammunition on January 16, 2008, in New Martinsville, after having previously been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

According to Potter, testimony at the sentencing hearing indicated that the charge arose from an altercation between several individuals on the street in front of HIGGINBOTHAM’s home during which HIGGINBOTHAM retrieved a firearm from his residence and fired several shots into an occupied vehicle. No one was injured, but ammunition was also found in HIGGINBOTHAM’s pocket.

HIGGINBOTHAM had previously been convicted of a felony in Wetzel County and as a convicted felon, could not possess a firearm.

HIGGINBOTHAM, who is free on bond, will self-report to the designated federal institution on February 9, 2009.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Perri. The New Martinsville Police Department provided extensive assistance to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives during this investigation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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