Hampshire County man admits to firearms charge

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – An Augusta, West Virginia man pled guilty today to a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Betsy Steinfeld Jividen announced.

James Albert Slonaker, age 48, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of Firearms.” Slonaker, having previously been convicted in the Circuit Court of Frederick County, Virginia, admitted to having a .22 caliber revolver, a .357 magnum revolver, two .22 caliber rifles, a .30-06 caliber rifle, and a Rossi firearm frame/receiver. The crime occurred in January 2017 in Hampshire County. 

Slonaker faces up to 10 years incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendants.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Lara K. Omps-Botteicher prosecuted the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, West Virginia Probation, and West Virginia State Police investigated. 

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Trumble presided.