U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark has sentenced Justin L. Collins to 12 years in prison following a violent incident involving his girlfriend. The sentencing took place on Friday, with the court finding Collins guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The events unfolded on July 11, 2022, when Collins engaged in an argument with his then-girlfriend. According to the plea agreement, he confiscated her phone and cash and prevented her from leaving the car. When she attempted to exit, Collins threatened her with a gun, assaulted her physically by punching and pistol-whipping her, and subsequently drove her to a park where she was further attacked by his sister and another woman.
The St. Louis County Police Department conducted an investigation into the matter. Officers discovered Collins attempting to flee when they approached the vehicle he was driving but managed to apprehend him. A 9mm handgun was found visibly placed between the driver's seat and center console of the car—a significant find given that Collins is legally prohibited from possessing firearms due to his status as a felon.
Collins entered a guilty plea in January at the U.S. District Court in St. Louis for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Catherine Hoag led the prosecution of this case, which falls under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN). This initiative aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and community members. The program emphasizes building trust within communities, supporting organizations that work towards violence prevention, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes effectively.