Rocky Mount Police Officer Indicted On Gun Charge

ROANOKE, VIRGINIA -- A police officer employed by the Rocky Mount Police Department and another man have been indicted by a Federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke on charges related to the straw purchasing of firearms.

Following an investigation headed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the grand jury has charged David Carson Haskins, age 57, with 18 counts of making false statements to a license firearms dealer in relation to the purchase of a firearm. In addition, Haskins, along with James Marion Slate, age 25, of Rocky Mount, Va., have been charged with one count of conspiracy to make straw purchases of firearms.

Each defendant faces a maximum possible penalty of up to five years in prison on the conspiracy charge. In addition, Haskins faces a maximum possible penalty of up to 10 years in prison on 10 counts of making a false statement to a licensed firearms dealer and a maximum possibly penalty of up to five years on the remaining eight counts of making false statements.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Donald Wolthuis will prosecute the case for the United States.

A Grand Jury indictment is only a charge and not evidence of guilt. The defendant is entitled to a fair trial with the burden on the government to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.