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September 13, 2012
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

GLEN DALE RESIDENT CONVICTED FOR UNLAWFUL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM

WHEELING, WEST VIRGINIA - A Marshall County man who is subject to a 100-year protective order has been convicted in federal court of illegally possessing a handgun.

According to U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld, II, JOHN CHARLES MYERS, 49 years old of Glen Dale, West Virginia, was convicted after a two day jury trial of “Possession of a Firearm while under a Domestic Violence Protection Order.” The offense occurred on April 7, 2012, when MYERS got into an argument with patrons at the Rainbow Inn in Glen Dale and then vowed to return with a gun. MYERS left the area and retrieved a loaded 9 millimeter Taurus pistol from his home and then returned to the bar. Police arrived shortly thereafter and found the pistol and a loaded magazine to be in the possession of MYERS along with a small amount of marijuana. Further investigation revealed that MYERS was subject to a family violence protective order that had been originally issued in June of 2011 and has an expiration date of June 2111.

“This verdict should make it clear that if you are subject to a protective order you can’t possess a gun for any reason, whether it’s being used to settle a score like in this case or if you have it for hunting or sporting purposes,” said Ihlenfeld. “The ATF agents and Glen Dale police officers did an outstanding job in investigating this case and in taking a dangerous man off the streets.”

MYERS, whose had been in custody pending trial due a pre-trial release violation, was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. He faces up to 10 years imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release when he is sentenced by Chief Judge John Preston Bailey.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney David J. Perri and investigated by the ATF and the Glen Dale Police Department.