Nicholas County Man Sentenced for Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County man was sentenced today to two years in prison for possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

According to court documents, a deputy with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department performed a lawful search of a vehicle in which Kevin Barnhouse, 41, of Summersville, was a passenger in November 2020. Barnhouse admitted he possessed a Smith and Wesson M&P Shield .40-caliber handgun and an American Tactical .22-caliber rifle with a high-capacity magazine found during the search.

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.

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. imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman prosecuted the case.

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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