Kanawha County Man Sentenced to Prison for Federal Gun Crime

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Joseph Douglas Collier, 38, of Alum Creek, was sentenced today to eight months 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, on November 11, 2023, Collier was on the sidewalk outside of a downtown Charleston bar holding an open container of alcohol. The bar doorman asked Collier to return to the bar with the alcoholic beverage. Collier responded by lifting his sweater to reveal a pistol in his waistband. Collier brandished the firearm at the doorman, who retreated inside and closed the bar to protect patrons and employees. Responding law enforcement officers located Collier at a nearby bar and seized a Kimber model Tactical Pro II .45-caliber pistol from Collier's possession following a pat-down search.

Federal law prohibits a person with a prior felony conviction from possessing a firearm or ammunition. Collier knew he was prohibited from possession a firearm because of his prior felony conviction for possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, cocaine, in Kanawha County Circuit Court on January 12, 2010.

United States Attorney Will Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Charleston Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

United States District Judge Irene C. Berger imposed the sentence. Assistant United States Attorney Samuel D. Marsh prosecuted the case.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the Department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.

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. 2:24-cr-69.

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