Source: United States Attorneys General
Headline: Barren County, Kentucky Felon Sentenced To 100 Months In Prison For Theft Of Firearms
Burglarized and stole firearms from Horton’s Guns
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Barren County, Kentucky, convicted felon was sentenced in United States District Court, by District Court Judge Greg N. Stivers, to 100 months in prison for charges associated with the burglary and theft of firearms from Hortons Guns, located in Cave City, Kentucky, announced United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman. There is no parole in the federal system.
“100 months in federal prison is real time,” stated United States Attorney Russell M. Coleman. “Theft of firearms from a licensed dealer can trigger a domino effect of violent crime that puts Kentucky families and officers at risk. Pursuing those who would steal firearms is a priority of our office and helps protect our Commonwealth.”
Eric Glen Stockton, 37, of Cave City, Kentucky, pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, and entered an Alford plea to the charge of stealing a firearm from a licensed dealer.
According to information presented in court, Stockton burglarized Horton’s Guns on October 3, 2014. During a traffic stop in February 2015, KSP discovered a stolen firearm from the burglary in Stockton’s girlfriend’s car and Stockton was a passenger. In May 2015, ATF retrieved two stolen rifles from the burglary from a cooperating witness who indicated Stockton had given him and his father the weapons.
The United States was prepared to present evidence at trial that included video surveillance from Horton’s Guns, recorded the day prior to the burglary, showing a person fitting the description of Stockton, taking photos with his cell-phone of firearms that were later stolen. Additional video surveillance captures an individual believed to be Stockton reaching down from the ceiling removing long guns, then dropping into the store and breaking a glass case to steal five handguns.
Stockton stole and possessed 8 firearms from Horton’s, valued at $6,488 and included: DPMS, model LR-243, .243 caliber semiautomatic rifle; Bushmaster, model XM15-E2S, .223 caliber semiautomatic rifle; Bushmaster, model XM15-E2S, .223 caliber semiautomatic rifle, Taurus, model PT 1911, .45 semiautomatic pistol; Taurus, model PT 1911, .45 semiautomatic pistol; Taurus, model PT 1911, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol; Hi-Point, model JHP, .45 caliber semiautomatic pistol; and a Glock, model 23, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol. Stockton is required to pay restitution for the stolen firearms. Only three of the eight were recovered.
Stockton is a convicted felon with conviction related to prior gun thefts including: receiving stolen property (firearm), in Hart Circuit Court, Hart County, Kentucky, on March 1, 2011; and receiving stolen property over $500, in Barren Circuit Court, Barren County, Kentucky, on March 8, 2011.
This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua Judd and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), with assistance from Kentucky State Police, Cave City Police Department, and the Barren Edmonson Allen County Drug Task Force.