Huntington Felon Sentenced To Four Years For Illegal Possession Of A Firearm

Huntington, W.Va. – A Huntington felon was sentenced today in federal court to four years in prison after pleading guilty to a federal firearm possession charge, U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin announced today.  Jerry T. Kinney, 29, pleaded guilty in January of 2014 to possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.  United States District Court Chief Judge Robert C. Chambers handed down the sentence

On September 5, 2013, Kinney illegally possessed a .45 caliber pistol near Huntington.  After Kinney was involved in an altercation inside a Huntington bar, he retrieved the firearm and chased another bar patron down an alley, shooting several times.  Nobody was injured as a result of the shooting.

Kinney was previously convicted of possession of a controlled substance in November of 2002 in Detroit, Michigan.  Kinney also was previously convicted of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in October of 2010 in the Circuit Court of Cabell County, West Virginia.  He did not have his rights to possess a firearm restored.

The investigation was conducted by the Huntington Violent Crimes and Drug Task Force.  Assistant United States Attorney Gregory McVey is in charge of the prosecution. 

The case is being 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.