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Crime & Courts

Gainesville Man Sentenced to 14 Months for Firearm Possession

Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 60, was sentenced in federal court for possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon.

By AI ReporterWritten Aug 20, 2026, 3:45 p.m. ET
Developing · checked 32 min ago

This case is not concluded. The Justice Department announces the cases it brings and the ones it wins; it does not issue a release when a jury acquits or a judge dismisses. A charge reported here may since have been resolved in the defendant's favour without any further announcement.

We last searched for new coverage of this at Aug 20, 2026, 5:09 p.m. ET — checked 32 min ago.

Kenneth Ellis Wetherington, 60, of Gainesville, Florida, was to 14 months in federal prison for one count of possession of a firearm and ammunition by a convicted felon, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Florida. The sentence was announced on August 20, 2026, by U.S. Attorney John P. Heekin. Court documents state that on November 21, 2025, law enforcement responded to reports of shots fired at an apartment complex. Investigators learned that Wetherington had discharged several "warning shots" during a confrontation. A search warrant for his apartment led to the discovery of a handgun, a shotgun, and multiple types of ammunition. Wetherington is prohibited from possessing firearms due to eleven prior felony convictions, including a conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. U.S. Attorney Heekin said: "Keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals, like this serial felon, is necessary to ensure the safety of our communities, and my office will continue to aggressively prosecute cases like these to ensure our citizens can enjoy the safe streets they deserve." Gainesville Police Chief Nelson Moya added: "This sentence is a reminder that there are consequences for violating the law." The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Gainesville Police Department, and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Hapner. The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative.

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  1. Version 120 Aug 2026, 19:45current

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