Sharpsburg Man Indicted On Firearms Offenses

He’s also charged with possession of a machine gun.

Baltimore, Md (KM) A federal grand jury has indicted a Sharpsburg man for   possession of  firearms by a prohibited person, and possession of a machine gun. The US Attorney’s Office for Maryland says Jacob Matthew Martz, 41, was indicted on November 2nd, and the indictment was unsealed on Thursday following his arrest.

Federal officials say Martz possessed six pistols, a shotgun and eight rifles. He was prohibited from possessing guns due to a previous felony firearms conviction. The US Attorney’s Office also says Martz possessed machine gun-conversion devices for AR 15-style rifles.

The indictments seek the forfeiture of all of Martz’s firearms upon his conviction.

If convicted, the US Attorney’s Office says Martz could face a maximum of ten years in prison for possession of firearms by a prohibited person, and another ten years for possession of a machine gun. But actual sentences are typically less than the maximum penalties, according to federal officials.

In an appearance Friday in US District Court in Baltimore. a magistrate judge ordered Martz to be released under the supervision of U-S Pretrial Services.

The US Attorney’s Office says an indictment  is not a finding of guilt and all defendants are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

By Kevin McManus