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June 28, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Elkins man pleads guilty to being
Felon in Possession of a Firearm

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA - A 48-year old Elkins, West Virginia, resident has admitted to illegally possessing a firearm during an incident that caused severe injuries to an Elkins teen last year.

According to United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, ROBERT L. RECKART, JR. pled guilty today before Federal Magistrate Judge John Kaull to one count of “Felon in Possession of a Firearm” for an incident that occurred last year in Tucker County. RECKART admitted that he possessed a firearm on November 25, 2011, despite having a prior felony conviction for “Distributing Cocaine.”

West Virginia State Police Trooper J.A. Kopec testified at the plea hearing that the gun possessed by RECKART discharged and struck a fifteen year old boy from Elkins, causing injuries that led to the amputation of the teen’s leg.

RECKART, who is free on bond pending sentencing, faces up to 10 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. A pre-sentence investigation report will be completed and then forwarded to Chief Judge John Preston Bailey, who will handle the penalty phase.

The case is being prosecuted by Ihlenfeld and was investigated by the Elkins Detachment of the State Police with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.