An Owensboro man was sentenced on Thursday to nearly 10 years in federal prison for the illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The announcement was made Friday by U.S. Attorney Michael A. Bennett of the Western District of Kentucky, Special Agent in Charge Michael E. Stansbury of the FBI Louisville Field Office, and Owensboro Police Department Chief Art Ealum.
According to court documents, Skylar Chase Riney, 37, was sentenced to 9 years and 10 months in prison, followed by 3 years of supervised release.
According to a release from Bennett’s offices, on February 18, 2022, Riney possessed three firearms: an Armscor model 206 .38 caliber handgun, a Smith and Wesson model M&P 9 M2.0, and a Kimber model K6S Combat .357 caliber revolver.
Riney was prohibited from possessing a firearm because he had previously been convicted of the following felony offenses, according to the release:
On June 3, 2019 — possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense, Lortab; possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense, methamphetamine; possession of drug paraphernalia while in possession of a firearm; possession of a firearm by a convicted felon; trafficking in a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense, less than or equal to 2 grams methamphetamine; and possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, first offense, opiates.
- On August 9, 2017 — burglary in the third degree; possession of a controlled substance in the first degree, methamphetamine; and theft by unlawful taking or disposition, $500 but less than $10,000.
- On April 20, 2016 — theft by unlawful taking of property valued at $500 but less than $10,000 (shoplifting).
- On July 1, 2010 — possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
- On December 19, 2005 — theft by unlawful taking or disposition.
There is no parole in the federal system.
The case was investigated by the Owensboro Police Department and FBI Owensboro, with assistance from the ATF. Assistant U.S. Attorney Frank Dahl 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,” the release reads. “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.”
