A 44-year-old Troy man who barricaded himself inside a home during a standoff tied to a protection-order violation has pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm, and now faces a multi-year prison sentence when he returns to court next month.
Jon D. Dawson admitted to one count of criminal firearm possession, according to Daily Voice. Authorities said police were responding to a report that a man was violating a protection order on June 7 when Dawson barricaded himself inside a home. During the standoff, he discarded a privately manufactured 9mm firearm, the outlet reported.
Dawson took the plea deal on October 14, and it calls for a two- to four-year prison sentence, per the same account. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, December 9. The evidence reviewed does not indicate what sentence the court will ultimately hand down, only the term called for under the agreement he accepted.
A Prior Felony Looms Over the Case
The district attorney's office said Dawson has a prior felony conviction, though officials did not specify what that earlier offense was, according to the outlet's report. That detail matters under New York law, which treats firearm possession differently depending on a defendant's criminal history.
Under New York State Senate statute Section 265.01-b, a person is guilty of criminal possession of a firearm if they possess any firearm, or if they lawfully possessed one before a 2013 registration law took effect and knowingly failed to register it. The statute classifies the offense as a class E felony.
What Happens Next
With the plea entered, the case now moves toward sentencing next month, when a judge will decide the term Dawson actually serves. Until then, the two- to four-year range outlined in his deal remains the agreed-upon expectation rather than a finalized punishment.
