Nicholas County Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Kevin Barnhouse, 41, of Summersville, pleaded guilty to a federal gun crime. 

According to statements made in court, an officer with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department executed lawful search of a vehicle in which Barnhouse was riding as a passenger in November 2020. The officer located two firearms in the vehicle, a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield 40 caliber handgun and an American Tactical 22 caliber rifle. Barnhouse admitted that he possessed the firearms and that he knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms as a result of a 2016 conviction in Nicholas County Magistrate Court for domestic assault on a family or household member.

Barnhouse pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and faces up to ten years in prison when sentenced on January 27, 2022.

United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department.

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. presided over the hearing.  Assistant United States Attorney Andrew Tessman is handling the prosecution.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia. Related court documents and information can be found on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:21-cr-00201.

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