ELKINS, WEST VIRGINIA - Samuel Lee Donaldson, Jr., of Weston, West Virginia, was found guilty today of a firearms charge, Acting United States Attorney Randolph J. Bernard announced.
After a two-day trial, a jury found Donaldson, 37, guilty of one count of “Unlawful Possession of a Firearm." According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Donaldson is a person prohibited from having a firearm because of prior convictions of domestic battery and third offense DUI. On October 5, 2019, a Lewis County Sheriff’s Deputy and a Weston Police Department K-9 unit responded to a 911 call about a felon with a firearm. When the officers made eye contact with Donaldson, he immediately fled on foot. Just before the officers apprehended him, Donaldson threw a 9mm semi-automatic firearm, which was quickly recovered.
Donaldson is facing up to 10 years of incarceration and a fine of up to $250,000. Under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, the actual sentence imposed will be based upon the seriousness of the offenses and the prior criminal history, if any, of the defendant.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Christopher L. Bauer and Andrew R. Cogar are prosecuting the case on behalf of the government. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, and the Weston Police Department investigated.
U.S. District Judge Thomas S. Kleeh presided.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
