Harnett County Man Sentenced To 9 Years For Unlawful Possession Of Firearm

RALEIGH – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of North Carolina announced that in federal court today Chief United States District Judge James C. Dever, III, sentenced SHANE JAMES SHIRLEY, 32, of Erwin, North Carolina, to 108 months’ imprisonment followed by 3 years’ supervised release. 

On September 23, 2015, a Federal Grand Jury returned a Criminal Indictment charging SHIRLEY with unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition while subject to a domestic violence protection order.  On October 29, 2015, SHIRLEY pled guilty to the charge.

According to the investigation, on June 2, 2015, a domestic violence protection order was filed against SHIRLEY which prohibited him from possessing firearms and from having any contact with his wife.  On June 21, 2015, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office responded to a home invasion at a residence in Lillington.  SHIRLEY, pointed an AR-15 style rifle through the window of a residence, and then kicked in the front door. SHIRLEY threatened and terrorized the victims inside the residence with the firearm.  SHIRLEY fled the residence on foot and was later captured near the residence. Officers found a loaded 30-round magazine in the driveway and a bulletproof vest. SHIRLEY’S jacket, a loaded Smith and Wesson M&P 15 semi-automatic 5.56 caliber AR-15 style rifle with scope and magazine were located in the woods near the residence.  SHIRLEY was located approximately 100 yards from the residence and was taken into custody. 

The criminal investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Harnett County Sheriff’s Office, and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Assistant United States Attorney Jane J. Jackson handled the prosecution on behalf of the Eastern District of North Carolina.