Fayette County Felon Sentenced To More Than 3 Years In Federal Prison For Illegal Firearm Possession

Brian Koch struck police dog with barrel of his rifle during arrest; suffers gunshot wound 

CHARLESTON, W.Va. –A Fayette County felon who failed to comply with repeated orders to drop a firearm during the execution of a warrant for his arrest in January 2012 was sentenced today to three years and five months in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm.  Brian L. Koch, 31, of Fayette County, W.Va., previously pleaded guilty in February to being a felon in possession of a firearm.  On January 10, 2012, members of the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department arrived at a cabin located near Chestnutburg Road in Fayette County to execute an arrest warrant on the defendant. 

After entering the cabin, law enforcement officers discovered Koch holding a rifle.  Law enforcement ordered the defendant to drop the firearm.  At the time, Koch repeatedly failed to comply with orders to drop the firearm and also struck a police dog with the barrel of his rifle.  As Koch turned toward responding officers, a Fayette County Sheriff’s deputy fired two shots, one of which struck the defendant in the arm.  Koch was placed under arrest.         

Officers also found at least seven additional firearms inside of the cabin that belonged to Koch.           
Koch was previously convicted in March 2005 in the Circuit Court of Fayette County, West Virginia of grand larceny.  Koch was also previously convicted in October 2004 in the Circuit Court of Fayette County, West Virginia of uttering. The defendant did not have his rights to possess a firearm restored. 

The investigation was conducted by the West Virginia State Police and the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department.  Assistant United States Attorney John File handled the prosecution.  The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Thomas E. Johnston.   

This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a nationwide commitment to reduce gun crime in the United States by networking existing local programs targeting gun crime.