Parkersburg Man Pleads Guilty to Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Joshua Dean Sprague, 42, of Parkersburg, pleaded guilty today to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on May 4, 2022, law enforcement officers in Parkersburg attempted to pull over a vehicle driven by Sprague, who fled at a high rate of speed onto Interstate 77. The chase led to Seventh Street before Sprague lost control of his vehicle and crashed into another vehicle. A mother and her daughter were in the other vehicle and were treated for injuries at the scene. After crashing his vehicle, Sprague fled on foot but was apprehended. Sprague was in possession of a Ruger, model LCP, .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Sprague knew he was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of his prior felony convictions for malicious assault on a correctional officer, escape from an institution and aggravated robbery in Harrison County Circuit Court on February 10, 2004.

Sprague is scheduled to be sentenced on December 20, 2022, and faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. presided over the hearing. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is prosecuting 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. 2:22-cr-140.

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