Harrison County man admits to firearm charge

CLARKSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA – Christopher Dent, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, has admitted to illegally possessing a firearm, United States Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Dent, age 32, pled guilty to one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm.” Dent, who had previously been convicted of crimes in New Jersey, admitted to having a 9mm caliber pistol in May 2017 in Harrison County.

Dent 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 defendant.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Zelda E. Wesley is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives and the Bridgeport Police Department investigated.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Michael John Aloi presided.