Jury Convicts Colchester Man of Possessing a Firearm as a Convicted Felon
BURLINGTON, Vt. - The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that, on February 9, 2023, Dennis Martin, 42, of Colchester, Vermont, was convicted for unlawfully possessing a firearm as a convicted felon in United States District Court in Burlington, Vermont, following a four-day jury trial before United States District Judge Christina Reiss.
According to court records, on February 17, 2019, Martin’s wife reported ongoing domestic abuse perpetrated by Martin. On February 18, 2019, Martin’s mother-in-law reported she had received a Snapchat video from Martin in which he brandished a firearm and made threatening statements. On February 18, 2019, Colchester Police with the assistance of the Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit arrested Martin for felony domestic assault and disorderly conduct with an electronic device. A search of the vehicle Martin was in at the time of his arrest resulted in the seizure of a Ruger model LCP .380 caliber pistol. Martin was subsequently convicted in Vermont Superior Court of misdemeanor domestic assault and disorderly conduct by phone and was sentenced to 363 to 364 days of jail.
Also, according to court records, on the evening of June 22, 2021, Martin was alleged to have brandished a firearm in the area of Franklin Square in Burlington, Vermont. Martin turned himself in to Burlington Police on June 29, 2021. On July 1, 2021, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) obtained a federal criminal complaint charging Martin with being a felon in possession of a firearm for the February 18, 2019 possession of the Ruger model LCP .380 caliber pistol. Martin was subsequently indicted by the federal grand jury, and on August 20, 2021, Martin was ordered detained pending trial.
On February 9, 2023, the trial jury returned a verdict of guilty, finding that on February 18, 2019, Martin had knowingly possessed the Ruger model LCP .380 caliber pistol while knowing that he had a prior conviction for a crime punishable for more than one year. Martin was ordered to remain detained pending sentencing.
United States Attorney Nikolas P. Kerest commended the efforts of the ATF, the Colchester Police Department, and the Vermont State Police in the investigation and prosecution of Martin. United States Attorney Kerest also stated, “Prosecution of felons who both unlawfully possess firearms and inflict domestic abuse on their households will continue to be prioritized by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.”
Martin faces a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a term of supervised release of up to 3 years, and up to a $250,000 fine. Martin’s actual sentence, however, will be determined by the sentencing judge with guidance from the advisory Federal Sentencing Guidelines.
The prosecution of Martin was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan A. Ophardt, Corinne M. Smith, and Wendy L. Fuller. Martin was represented by Michelle Anderson Barth, Esq.
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. For more information about Project Safe Neighborhoods, please visit https://www.justice.gov/psn .
