Calloway County Felon Sentenced to Over 3 Years for Illegally Possessing a Firearm

Paducah, KY - A Calloway County man was sentenced yesterday to 3 years and 10 months in prison for illegally possessing a firearm after having been previously convicted of a felony offense.

U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge R. Shawn Morrow of the ATF Louisville Field Division, and Sheriff Nicky Knight of the Calloway County Sheriff's Office made the announcement.

According to court documents, Ronnie Harold Sharp, 49, was sentenced to 3 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release, for unlawfully possessing a Smith & Wesson, model SW40VE, .40 caliber semiautomatic pistol and a Smith & Wesson, model 32-1, .38 caliber revolver on March 14, 2022. Sharp was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses.

On June 10, 2013, in Calloway Circuit Court, Sharp was convicted of theft by unlawful taking over $500, theft of an automobile, two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, receiving stolen property over $500, first-degree fleeing or evading police, and manufacturing methamphetamine, first offense.

On May 5, 2005, in Calloway Circuit Court, Sharp was convicted of two counts of complicity to second-degree assault, criminal attempt to manufacture methamphetamine, and possession of anhydrous ammonia.

There is no parole in the federal system.

This case was investigated by the Calloway County Sheriff's Office and the ATF Paducah Satellite Office.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Seth Hancock, Chief of the U.S. Attorney's Paducah Branch Office, 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.

###