A Millinocket man has admitted guilt in U.S. District Court in Portland for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Jeffrey Barnard, 61, was apprehended following an incident in March 2023 when an East Millinocket Police Department officer stopped his vehicle due to its registration being linked to a suspended driver's permit.
During the stop, a confrontation occurred between Barnard and the officer. With assistance from another officer and a private citizen, Barnard was arrested. A search revealed a .22 caliber revolver in his jacket pocket. His criminal history prohibits him from firearm possession, including a previous conviction in 2017 for the same offense after an armed standoff with police in Ellsworth.
Barnard could face up to 15 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to $250,000, followed by up to three years of supervised release. Sentencing will occur post completion of a presentence investigation report by the U.S. Probation Office. The final sentence will be determined by a federal district judge considering U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation with help from the East Millinocket Police Department.