Contact: Beth Stone 508-584-8120
BROCKTON – A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to charges that he brought a cache of weapons into the City of Brockton, Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz has announced.
Domenick E. Barshaw (DOB: 11/27/00), pleaded guilty today to 9 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Firearm, 10 counts of Unlawful Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device, and one count each of Unlawful Possession of a Loaded Firearm and Transportation of a Firearm into the Commonwealth for Use in Commission of Criminal Activity. Brockton Superior Court Judge Mark C. Gildea sentenced Barshaw to serve five years to five years and one day in State Prison. The Commonwealth recommended that Barshaw serve 7-10 years.
“My office has made prosecution of illegal firearms one of the cornerstones of our efforts to reduce violent crime here in Brockton,” DA Cruz said. “And the two questions that I am often asked by residents about firearm violence are, ‘Where do the guns come from?’ and ‘Are we arresting the people who bring them here?’ Although identifying and prosecuting firearms traffickers is an extremely challenging task, our community has benefitted from the sustained efforts of the Brockton Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, ATF, and FBI. Together we have worked to bring numerous firearms trafficking prosecutions in recent years that have held those who supply illegal guns accountable for their actions. In this case, thanks to a community tip, the quick action of the Brockton Police, and investigative efforts of the ATF, we were able to bring an individual to justice. Mr. Barshaw traveled from Nashville to Brockton, for the sole purpose of selling semi-automatic weapons and paraphernalia, including an AK-47. We will not tolerate anyone unloading illegal guns in our community.”
On March 16, 2019, Brockton Police received a 911 call that a man, later identified as Barshaw, was seen with a firearm in his possession inside a duffel bag on the roof of a car parked along Longworth Avenue. Police responded and located the vehicle that the 911 caller had described. The driver’s side door was ajar and then closed upon the arrival of police. Brockton Police officers approached the car and identified a handgun with a large capacity magazine on the passenger side floor. The gun was loaded with a large capacity feeding device, and ammunition and magazines were strewn throughout the car. Police also observed Black Kevlar gloves, two facemasks and two red handkerchiefs in the backseat.
Officers questioned Barshaw and two other occupants of the vehicle and inquired about their licenses to carry. None of the men had one. Police then searched the rest of the vehicle and located six firearms, all semi-automatic, and one AK-47, three large capacity feeding devices and numerous other magazines. Police additionally recovered from the duffel bag, six large capacity magazines, one 9mm firearm and various magazines and assorted ammunition.
Co-defendants Theodore E. Baskette (DOB: 03/09/99) and Christopher Smart (03/07/01), who were with Barshaw and the vehicle, have been indicted on gun charges as part of the case. Baskette is scheduled to be back in court on July 2 and Smart is scheduled for August 10.
The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Joseph Janezic and was investigated by Brockton and the ATF.