A convicted felon from Scranton was sentenced to federal prison on gun and drug charges on Wednesday.
A press release from United States Attorney Sherri A. Lydon says 33-year-old Justin Dewayne Barr was sentenced in Florence for felon in possession of a firearm and possession with intent to distribute cocaine, cocaine base, and marijuana. U.S. District Judge R. Bryan Harwell sentenced Barr to 188 months in federal prison followed by five years of supervised released, which will run consecutive to a two year federal supervised release Barr is currently serving.
According to the release, on February 28, 2017, a deputy with the Florence County Sheriff’s Office saw a vehicle make an improper turn and go through a red light. The deputy initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle. Upon making contact with Barr, the driver of the car, the deputy smelled marijuana and asked the driver to step out of the vehicle. After exiting the vehicle, Barr ran and a foot chase ensued.
The release says “during the chase, Barr fought with the deputy and turned the deputy’s wrist, pressing the deputy’s taser into the deputy’s inner thigh while it was cycling and causing the deputy to be briefly incapacitated.”
Barr was taken into custody a short time later, according to the release. During a search of Barr, two bags of marijuana and around $1,000 in cash were found. A search of the vehicle resulted in the discovery of a bag of cocaine, a bag of cocaine base, a set of digital scales, a Smith and Wesson .40 caliber semi-automatic pistol loaded with 11 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber.
This case was investigated by ATF, the Florence County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lake City Police Department, the release also states. The case was prosecuted as part of the joint federal, state, and local project Project CeaseFire, which is “part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone.”
