Virginia Gun Owners Forum - VGOF

HENRICO -- A New York felon pleaded guilty today to attempting to illegally purchase a semiautomatic pistol at a Virginia gun show in a case being highlighted as a key example of the cooperation between firearm dealers and police in stopping prohibited gun sales.

Lamont Reaves, 27, who was convicted in 2007 of a felony crack cocaine offense in New York and also charged with earlier gun offenses, entered a guilty plea in Henrico County Circuit Court to attempting to possess a gun after having been convicted of a felony.

Judge Gary A. Hicks accepted a recommendation by prosecutor Robert C. Cerullo and sentenced Reaves to two years in prison with one year and three months suspended. Sentencing guidelines called for an active prison term of between seven and 11 months.

According to a summary of evidence, Reaves, who now lives in Richmond, tried to persuade numerous federally licensed firearms dealers to sell him a gun “privately” and without a background check at the Showmasters gun show July 7 at Richmond International Raceway.

The dealers refused and alerted state trooper D.M. Sottile, who eventually identified Reaves and arrested him after determining he had a felony record.

Read more:
http://www.newsadvance.com/news/local/a ... 0f31a.html

Interesting that it was prosecuted locally rather than by Holder's Justice Department.

SpanishInquisition wrote:Interesting that it was prosecuted locally rather than by Holder's Justice Department.

Because it wouldn't have been prosecuted by the DOJ. They ain't got time fo dat!

Judge Gary A. Hicks accepted a recommendation by prosecutor Robert C. Cerullo and sentenced Reaves to two years in prison with one year and three months suspended. Sentencing guidelines called for an active prison term of between seven and 11 months.

For all of the yelling that people do about felons getting their hands on guns because of no background checks, this is the part that irks me. Guy gets 9 months in jail on a two year stint, but will probably be out in 4 months if he keeps his head down. As deadly as people make it out to be of felons ILLEGALLY trying to purchase firearms, whatever happened to throwing the book at them?

And he didn't even have to lie on a background check form to get time. Makes me wonder if he would have been arrested if he had filled out 4473 and was denied.

ShotgunBlast wrote:. Guy gets 9 months in jail on a two year stint, but will probably be out in 4 months if he keeps his head down.

All the f-ing around at time of arrest, and getting a release on bail hearing, the guy may have already done his 4 months before he was even convicted.

ShotgunBlast wrote:For all of the yelling that people do about felons getting their hands on guns because of no background checks, this is the part that irks me. Guy gets 9 months in jail on a two year stint, but will probably be out in 4 months if he keeps his head down. As deadly as people make it out to be of felons ILLEGALLY trying to purchase firearms, whatever happened to throwing the book at them?

Incorrect, he gets to serve 9 months here in VA, there is no such thing as good time. He will however probably serve it in a local jail versus prison, a contract bed if you want to call it that. He will have 15 months hanging over him and can immediately be returned for that period if he is involved with the commission of another crime.

jdonovan wrote:All the f-ing around at time of arrest, and getting a release on bail hearing, the guy may have already done his 4 months before he was even convicted.

You really have very little understanding of the system, don't you? On an arrest like this where it is an arrest at the time of the crime. He will receive a hearing within 4 days (usually 2 or less) to set bond or detain him.

grumpyMSG wrote: You really have very little understanding of the system, don't you? On an arrest like this where it is an arrest at the time of the crime. He will receive a hearing within 4 days (usually 2 or less) to set bond or detain him.

not everyone is granted bond on the first request.

BTW your sarcasm detector appears to be broken, you might want to look into getting it fixed.

jdonovan wrote: not everyone is granted bond on the first request.

BTW your sarcasm detector appears to be broken, you might want to look into getting it fixed.

And if he is a flight risk, say a person with criminal ties in another state, he probably doesn't deserve bond. So, if you were the judge would you give it to him?

Sarcasm has some truth and some humor in it, Your statement falls a little short in my eyes.