James Charleston Jr., a 36-year-old resident of Evansville, has been sentenced to five years in federal prison and three years of supervised release. This sentence follows his guilty plea for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
Court documents reveal that on August 3, 2024, officers from the Evansville Police Department responded to reports of a man on Garvin Street waving a silver gun and pointing it at people while shouting. Upon arrival, police encountered Charleston, who refused orders to comply and reportedly said, “I’m willing to die right now!” He also told officers, “You better get me before I get you.”
Charleston was eventually detained. A search revealed he had a loaded silver 9mm pistol in his waistband. At the time of this incident, Charleston had prior felony convictions that legally barred him from possessing firearms. His record includes offenses such as unlawful possession of firearms by a serious violent felon, carrying a handgun without a license, domestic battery, strangulation, aggravated robbery, identity thefts, thefts, and failure to return to lawful detention.
“Illegally armed, repeat violent criminals are responsible for a disproportionate share of the gun violence suffered in Evansville and all our communities. These offenses will not be tolerated,” stated John E. Childress, Acting United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana. He further emphasized the risks involved with illegal firearm possession: “Let it be clear that if you choose to illegally carry a firearm, you risk serving a serious sentence in federal prison.”
The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives alongside the Evansville Police Department. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Matthew P. Brookman.
Acting U.S. Attorney Childress expressed gratitude towards Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew B. Miller for prosecuting the case.
