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Leonardtown resident James Stephen Gass, Jr., 32, was sentenced to nine years for an incident involving a group of minors, as well as five years for illegally possessing a weapon due to a previous felony conviction.
In June last year, officers made contact with a minor who advised that he and three other juveniles were riding their bikes in the area of Chicamuxen Road and Mason Springs Road when Gass threatened them, pointing a long gun at them while shouting racial epithets, officials said.
During the investigation an officer found Gass’ vehicle parked in the Dollar General located on Bicknell Road. When the officer attempted to make contact, Gass entered his vehicle and fled from multiple officers, causing a high-speed pursuit.
At the time, Gass was a convicted felon and prohibited from possessing firearms.
Gass pleaded guilty in Charles County to possession of a firearm with a felony conviction, first-degree assault, unlawful use of a firearm in the commission of a felony or crime of violence.
When he is released, Gass will be on supervised probation for five years.
In St. Mary's County, Gass was also sentenced last month for shooting into an occupied home in June 2022.
"(Gass) was prohibited from possessing firearms due to prior criminal convictions, yet continued to illegally do so," St. Mary's County State's Attorney Jaymi Sterling said when he was sentenced there.
"His dangerous actions could have created large-scale harm to our community due to his total disregard for human life when he brazenly opened fire at an occupied residence and a nearby vehicle."
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