Press Release
Elyria man receives max sentence of 10 years after guilty plea to firearms violations
For Immediate Release
U.S. Attorney's Office, Northern District of Ohio
U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced today that Joshua T. Grant, age 28, of Elyria, Ohio was sentenced by Judge John R. Adams to a maximum term of 10 years in prison after Grant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a person with a prior misdemeanor domestic violence conviction.
“We have no tolerance for domestic violence offenders who possess and use firearms illegally,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman. “This sentence, the maximum allowable under federal law, sends an appropriate message to those who stand convicted of domestic violence offenses, even misdemeanors: if you illegally possess or use a gun, you will be held accountable and your next stop is not weeks or months in county jail, but a decade in federal prison.”
“This is another example of how a great working relationship between local and federal agencies can benefit all involved,” said Elyria Police Chief Duane Whitley. “The real winners in this are the citizens of Elyria. I want thank the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their help with difficult situations.”
According to court documents, On September 7, 2019, at approximately 1:00 a.m., Elyria Police responded to 120 Portia Court in Elyria for reports of “shots fired.” Upon arrival at the apartment, they found a large amount of blood on the kitchen floor and a victim with a gunshot wound to the chest. The victim was then transported to a hospital and later life-flighted to University Hospital in Cleveland.
Grant, the victim’s boyfriend, was arrested approximately half-mile away, running down the street away from the residence. Officers located a loaded silver and black semiautomatic .380 caliber pistol in his pocket. The officers administered a gunshot residue test, which later revealed the presence of gun powder residue on Grant's hands.
Interviews with those present at the apartment stated that Grant had shot his girlfriend in the chest.
Grant is prohibited from possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of felonious assault on July 29, 2016 and domestic violence on March 11, 2013 both in the Lorain County Common Pleas Court.
This case was investigated by the Elyria Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Scott C. Zarzycki.
Contact
Daniel Ball
Daniel.Ball@usdoj.gov
Updated October 2, 2020
Topic
Violent Crime
Component