A 40 year-old Four Oaks man was convicted in a one-day jury trial before Chief United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. A federal jury in Elizabeth City this week found Lamont Turrentine guilty of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. United States Attorney Robert J. Higdon, Jr. announced Tuesday the guilty verdict.
The evidence showed that Turrentine is a multi-convicted felon and had previously been convicted of felon in possession of a firearm along with multiple felony convictions for the sale of cocaine. During the trial, the government presented evidence showing Turrentine engaged in a shoot-out with Wayne County deputies who attempted to arrest him following an attempted burglary near the Wayne-Johnston County line in 2018.
During a chase, he fired his weapon at officers and they returned fire. Turrentine was arrested a short time later. Officers retraced the path where he fled and found a firearm. A ballistics expert matched the firearm found on the path to the casings that were found where the shoot-out took place.
Sentencing is scheduled for May 2020. Turrentine could face a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.
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 make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.
The Wayne County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorney Donald R. Pender represented the government.
