CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Jonathan Ray Sindledecker, 40, of Parkersburg, was sentenced today to 120 months in prison for prohibited possession of a firearm by a felon and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Sindledecker previously pleaded guilty to those two felony offenses on July 28, 2021.
According to court documents and statements made in court, officers with the Parkersburg Police Department arrested Sindledecker on January 17, 2020 due to outstanding warrants. When officers approached Sindledecker at a Go-Mart store near the intersection of 16th Street and St. Mary’s Avenue, he ran around the store into an alley. As Sindledecker was running, he attempted to pull a pistol with an obliterated serial number from his waist area. Upon doing so, Sindledecker lost his balance and fell to the ground. Officers apprehended Sindledecker and located the pistol nearby. Officers also located a quantity of methamphetamine, digital scales and a small amount of cash on Sindledecker. Sindledecker knew he was prohibited from possessing the firearm due to prior felony convictions for unlawful entry and manufacture of a controlled substance in Wood County Circuit Court. Sindledecker admitted that he intended to distribute the methamphetamine to others.
Including the two convictions from this case, Sindledecker now has 25 adult criminal convictions including seven felony convictions and 18 misdemeanor convictions. Included in Sindledecker’s criminal history are convictions for battery, domestic battery, domestic assault, and two felony convictions for manufacture of a controlled substance.
The United States sought a strong sentence of imprisonment in this case due to Sindledecker’s criminal history as well as his decision to pull a pistol out of his waistband while fleeing from law enforcement officers just prior to his arrest.
United States Attorney William S. Thompson made the announcement and commended the investigative work of the Parkersburg Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Assistant United States Attorney Jeremy B. Wolfe is handling the prosecution.
United States District Judge Joseph R. Goodwin imposed the sentence.
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. 2:20-cr-00050.
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