Billy Ray Castle Jr., a 40-year-old resident of Bim, Boone County, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Following his release, he will be subject to three years of supervised release. This sentence is the result of Castle being found guilty of possessing a firearm as a felon.

Court documents reveal that on July 24, 2023, Castle discharged three rounds from a Beretta Pietro SPA Model APX 9mm pistol into the ceiling of a residence in Boone County and fired another round out the open door. Law enforcement officers responding to the incident confiscated several firearms from the location: the Beretta pistol, a Sig Sauer model P250 .40-caliber pistol, and a Marlin Firearms Co. model X7 .308-caliber rifle. It was established that Castle had possession of all these firearms.

Federal regulations prohibit individuals with felony convictions from owning firearms or ammunition. Castle was aware of this restriction due to his prior conviction for robbery in Boone County Circuit Court on November 18, 2003. In that case, he was involved in an armed robbery targeting a 65-year-old wheelchair user at their home in 2002.

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson who praised the investigative efforts carried out by the Boone County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

Senior United States District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr. delivered the sentence while Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe along with former Assistant United States Attorney Troy D. Adams handled prosecution duties.

This legal action is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), an initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through collaboration between law enforcement agencies and communities. The Department's violent crime reduction strategy launched on May 26, 2021 strengthens PSN with principles such as fostering community trust and legitimacy, supporting preventive community-based organizations, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and evaluating outcomes.

Further details can be accessed via related court documents available on PACER under Case No. 2:24-cr-71 or through the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of West Virginia website.