CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Matthew Ryan Hunt, 34, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to five years in prison, to be followed by three years of supervised release, for being a felon in possession of a firearm.
According to court documents and statements made in court, on September 9, 2021, law enforcement officers responded to a domestic violence complaint at Hunt’s apartment. The officers forced entry after learning that shots had been fired inside the apartment. Hunt was found in a bedroom with a Smith & Wesson, model M&P 9 Shield, 9mm semi-automatic pistol next to him. Officers also found three additional firearms, and more than 5,800 rounds of ammunition, in a bedroom safe: an Anderson Manufacturing, model AM-15, semi-automatic rifle; a Savage, model Axis,.308-caliber semi-automatic rifle; and a Springfield, model XD45,.45-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
A woman was also in the apartment. Swabs taken from her face and hands and from Hunt’s face and hands all showed the presence of gunshot residue. Two spent shell casings found in the apartment were analyzed with assistance from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which indicated that the shells came from the firearm found next to Hunt.
Hunt admitted to possessing the four firearms. Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Hunt knew he was prohibited from possessing firearms because of his felony conviction for breaking and entering in Wirt County Circuit Court on Aug. 15, 2017.
United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department, the West Virginia State Police, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF).
United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe prosecuted 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. 2:21-cr-267.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
