JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Indiana man was indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.
Kristopher Shawn Martin, 34, of Brazil, Ind., was charged in a two-count indictment returned by a federal grand jury in Jefferson City, Mo.
Today’s indictment alleges that Martin was in possession of a loaded Browning .380-caliber handgun on Oct. 7, 2016, in Columbia, Mo. Martin is charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition, and one count of being an unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Martin has prior felony convictions for possessing cocaine, domestic battery and cruelty to animals.
Dickinson cautioned that the charges contained in this indictment are simply accusations, and not evidence of guilt. Evidence supporting the charges must be presented to a federal trial jury, whose duty is to determine guilt or innocence.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller. It was investigated by the Columbia, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.