Richard Shawn Owens, a 39-year-old resident of Lewisburg, Greenbrier County, was sentenced in Beckley, West Virginia, to one year and three months' imprisonment. The sentence is to be followed by three years of supervised release. Owens was found guilty of possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
On August 10, 2023, authorities executed a search warrant at Owens's residence. During the search, law enforcement discovered six firearms: a Glock 19X 9mm handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun, a Smith & Wesson M&P15 rifle, a RomArm Cugir WASR-10 rifle, a Winchester Super X Pump shotgun, and a Ruger American bolt-action rifle. Officers also found large quantities of ammunition and drug paraphernalia. Importantly, all items were easily accessible within the home, which also housed two children at the time. Owens admitted to owning the firearms.
The possession of firearms by Owens was in violation of federal law due to his prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction. Owens had been previously convicted of assault and battery of a family member in Chesterfield County, Virginia, on July 16, 2013, which served as a basis for the prohibition against firearm possession.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston praised the U.S. Department of Homeland Security-Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for their investigative efforts. Chief United States District Judge Frank W. Volk delivered the sentence, and Assistant United States Attorney Jennifer Rada Herrald prosecuted the case.
Owens's prosecution is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) program, a key Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime. PSN collaborates with various community stakeholders to assess and address violent crime, focusing enforcement on habitual offenders and enhancing reentry strategies for crime reduction.
For more details, the press release is accessible via the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia's website. Case information is available on PACER by referencing Case No. 5:23-cr-146.