CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Nicholas County man was sentenced today to one year and one month 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, a deputy with the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department arrived at the Mount Lookout residence of Brian Jacob Taylor, 35, in February 2021 to serve Taylor with a warrant for his arrest concerning an unrelated charge. Taylor asked the deputy if he could put a shirt on and secure his dog before being transported to the police station. While inside Taylor’s residence, the deputy observed a loaded shotgun and marijuana in plain view. Later that same day, the Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department obtained and executed a search warrant for Taylor’s residence and located two loaded firearms as well as several controlled substances, including methamphetamine, a heroin-fentanyl mixture and marijuana. Taylor was prohibited from possessing firearms by virtue of two prior felony convictions in Nicholas County Circuit Court for the delivery of a controlled substance.
U.S. Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement. The Nicholas County Sheriff’s Department conducted the investigation with assistance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).
Senior United States District Judge David A. Faber presided over the sentencing. Assistant United States Attorney Andrew J. Tessman is handling the prosecution.
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-00019.
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