The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that Michael Jenkins, 24, of Barre, Vermont was sentenced today to 12 months and one day for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. Jenkins also agreed to the forfeiture of a 12-gauge shotgun as part of his plea agreement with the government. U.S. District Judge Geoffrey W. Crawford also ordered that Jenkins serve a three-year period of supervised release following his incarceration.
According to court records, in April 2013, Jenkins entered a stranger’s home, ultimately stealing a pick-up truck from the property. The homeowner pursued the pick-up truck as Jenkins drove off the road and through a field into the woods. Jenkins then exited the truck and fled on foot, eluding pursuing law enforcement. He was apprehended later that evening in Eden, Vermont. In the ensuing state prosecution, Jenkins received a felony conviction for unlawful trespass of an occupied residence, and a sentence of six months to three years in prison. This felony conviction prohibited Jenkins from possessing firearms.
Three months later on November 8, 2013, Jenkins signed a conditional re-entry agreement with the Vermont Department of Corrections allowing him to continue his sentence on furlough while residing with his grandmother in Williamstown, Vermont. Among those conditions, he agreed not to possess weapons or firearms. Four days later, Barre Probation and Parole received information that Jenkins was in possession of a firearm. A search of Jenkins’ bedroom yielded a 12-gauge shotgun containing a shell in the chamber and a magazine loaded with five additional shells. Probation officers also located numerous handgun rounds and several knives in the bedroom.
Previous to his federal indictment in this case, Jenkins had three state convictions whose offense conduct involved possession of loaded firearms.
This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with the assistance of Barre Probation and Parole. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin J. Doyle handled the prosecution for the government. Michael Jenkins was represented by Assistant Federal Defender Steven L. Barth.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
