Summersville Couple Who Robbed Gun Dealer Enter Federal Guilty Pleas

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County couple who broke into Johnson’s Sporting Goods in Summersville and stole firearms pleaded guilty to federal firearms charges, announced U.S. Attorney Booth Goodwin.  Matthew England, 28 and Lyndsey England, 26, pleaded guilty to possession of stolen firearms before the United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver, Jr. in Charleston.

On September 26, 2011, officers from the Summersville Police Department responded to an alarm at Johnson’s Sporting Goods on Webster Road.  Upon arrival they saw signs of forced entry into the business.  The owner reported that 14 firearms had been stolen.  Several of the firearms were recovered during investigations of other crimes, and in 2013, police traced the stolen firearms to the Englands.  Both Matthew and Lyndsey England admitted stealing the firearms when questioned by authorities. 

Each defendant faces up to 10 years in federal prison when sentenced.  Matthew England entered his guilty plea on May 8, 2014 and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2014.  Lyndsey England entered her plea today and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 27, 2014.

The Summersville Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives conducted the investigation.  Assistant United States Attorney, Joshua Hanks is in charge of the prosecution.