Edward Leon Sowards, a Hurricane resident, has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possessing a firearm despite his conviction for a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
Court documents reveal that Sowards, 35, purchased a stolen Taurus model Public Defender Judge Poly .45-caliber/.410-gauge revolver from an individual in June 2023. Sowards acknowledged having knowledge of the firearm's stolen status and admitted to returning the firearm after learning it had a removed serial number during a June 21, 2023, meeting with the seller in a Hurricane parking lot.
Federal law bans individuals convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence from owning firearms. Sowards was aware of this prohibition due to his domestic battery conviction on April 20, 2012, in Putnam County Magistrate Court.
Acting United States Attorney Lisa G. Johnston announced the sentence, crediting the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the West Virginia State Police for their investigative efforts. U.S. District Judge Robert C. Chambers delivered the sentence, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Courtney L. Finney prosecuted the case.
The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a national initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence. The Department of Justice revitalized PSN on May 26, 2021, emphasizing fostering community trust, supporting violence prevention initiatives, prioritizing focused law enforcement, and measuring outcomes.
###
