New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty To Firearm Charge

          CONCORD, N.H. – Shawn Goodine, 38, of Nashua, New Hampshire, pleaded guilty in United States District Court for the District of New Hampshire to possession of an unregistered NFA firearm, announced Acting United States Attorney Donald Feith.

          On June 14, 2014, Nashua Police officers were patrolling in an unmarked vehicle in the area of Elm Street Middle School.  While the officers were conducting patrol, they observed a white car traveling north towards the intersection a high rate of speed.  The vehicle failed to stop at the intersection. The police activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the vehicle.  The white vehicle accelerated to approximately 70 mph in an area which is densely populated.  The vehicle made several motor vehicle violations but ultimately stopped for the police.

          As the officer approached the vehicle, he glanced into the back seat of the vehicle and observed, in plain view, a shotgun lying across the seat facing the passenger’s side seat.  The officer ordered the operator, subsequently identified as Shawn Goodine, to exit the vehicle.  Goodine complied and exited the vehicle.  The officer requested a second officer check the firearm to determine if it was loaded.  Goodine replied that a shell was in the chamber.

          Goodine stated that earlier he went into an apartment to assist a woman when he was assaulted by two men and had a gun pointed at his face.  After the assault, Goodine went to his apartment to get his firearm.  Goodine stated, “I am glad you guys got me, I was going to kill them.”  Goodine claimed he was driving so fast because he was enraged after having a gun put in his face.  Goodine stated that he did not stop because he did not notice the police.  Goodine admitted that he should not have had the shotgun. The police recovered shotgun shells from Goodine’s pocket.

          The shotgun was subsequently measured and the approximate barrel length was determined to be 12 inches with an overall length of 32 inches.  A barrel less than 18 inches renders the firearm an NFA weapon which must be registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record.  A search of the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record determined that the defendant did not register the firearm.

          Goodine faces a maximum sentence of ten years imprisonment.  Goodine is scheduled to be sentenced on November 30, 2015.  Goodine was detained pending sentencing.

          The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Nashua Police Department and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra M. Walsh.