Berkeley County Man Admits to Federal Domestic Violence Charges

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Kevin Nicholas Munroe, 32, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, pled guilty today to federal domestic violence charges.

United States Attorney William Ihlenfeld announced that Munroe pled guilty to possession of a firearm by a person subject to a domestic violence protective order, and interstate violation of a protective order. According to court documents and statements made in court, West Virginia State Police were investigating a shooting that led to Munroe, who had an active domestic violence protective order against him filed in Los Angeles, California. Munroe, prohibited from having firearms, was found in Martinsburg with the person who filed the protective order and a .45 caliber revolver.

“Those who violate protective orders will be held accountable, regardless of where the order was issued,” said U.S. Attorney Ihlenfeld. “Due to the excellent work of the West Virginia State Police, Mr. Munroe faces a long prison sentence for violating an order issued on the other side of the country.”

Munroe faces up to 15 years in federal prison for the firearms charge and up to five years for the protective order violation. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

This case was prosecuted as a part of the Northern District of West Virginia’s Domestic Violence Reduction Initiative, formed in early 2023 to protect domestic violence victims, take dangerous criminals off the streets, and enhance community safety.  The program focuses on keeping firearms out of the hands of violent offenders.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the West Virginia State Police investigated.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kyle Kane is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.