Pocahontas County man facing several firearms charges

ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA – Julian N. Waddell, of Durbin, West Virginia, appeared in federal court today to face several firearms charges, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell announced.

Waddell, 36, was indicted by a federal grand jury sitting in Wheeling in October 2020. He is facing four counts of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm” and one count of “Unlawful Possession of an Unregistered Firearm.” Waddell, a person who isn’t permitted to have a firearm because of a prior conviction, is accused of having three revolvers, a shotgun, a semi-automatic rifle, and an unregistered silencer from April to August 2019 in Pocahontas County. 

Waddell is facing up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000 for each of the first four counts and face up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $10,000 for the unregistered firearm charge. 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 Christopher L. Bauer is prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and the Mountain Region Drug Task Force investigated.

An indictment is merely an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

U.S. Magistrate Michael John Aloi presided.