PORT ANGELES — A Diamond Point man has been sentenced to eight months in jail after a Clallam County jury found him guilty of two felony counts of unlawful firearm possession.
Clallam County Superior Court Judge Brent Basden handed down the sentence Tuesday to Stephen Massey, who was convicted of possessing two firearms found during an August 29 search of his home. Deputies discovered one gun next to Massey’s bed and another in a nearby drawer alongside his expired driver’s license. Massey, a previously convicted felon, is barred under state law from owning or possessing firearms.
Prosecutors argued Massey had full knowledge and control of the firearms, while Massey testified that he was unaware of them and was only staying at the residence to care for his mother, who has dementia. The jury rejected that defense and returned guilty verdicts on both counts.
Massey faced a standard sentencing range of four to twelve months. Prosecutors sought the maximum, while the defense pushed for the low end; Judge Basden ultimately ordered an eight-month term. Massey was also required to register as a felony firearm offender, and the seized firearms will be forfeited.