Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Charge

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Parkersburg man pled guilty yesterday to a federal gun charge, announced United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  Anthony Michael Mowery, 42, entered his guilty plea to being a felon in possession of a firearm before United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin.  Stuart commended the investigative efforts of the Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

“Recidivism is real,” said United States Attorney Mike Stuart.  “Far too often convicted felons like Mowery, who are prohibited from possessing guns, continue their criminal conduct.   Prosecution of felons in possession of firearms is vital to public safety.”

On August 19, 2016, Mowery possessed a Hi Point 9mm semiautomatic pistol during an argument he had with Joseph Daniel Mills near the little league baseball field in the vicinity of Buckeye Street and Camden Avenue in Parkersburg.  Video evidence provided by Mills showed Mowery brandishing a pistol at Mills from the passenger seat of a vehicle.  During the altercation, Mowery fled with the driver, abandoning the vehicle at the scene.  Police recovered nine millimeter ammunition from the vehicle and a Hi Point pistol and magazine in the field nearby.   Mowery was prohibited from possessing the firearm as a result of his previous felony convictions for child abuse and unlawful assault.  In an unrelated matter, Mills has since been convicted of methamphetamine trafficking and was sentenced on May 25, 2018 to 108 months in federal prison. 

Mowery faces up to 10 years in prison when he is sentenced on October 4, 2018.  Assistant United States Attorney Joshua C. Hanks is responsible for the prosecution.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.   Attorney General Jeff Sessions reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

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