=> Gun-nut gets 22 years in prison for simple possession <=
Va. man gets 22 year sentence in Capitol gun case
By BRIAN WESTLEY - 2 hours ago
WASHINGTON (AP) - A Virginia man was sentenced Friday to 22 years in prison
for carrying a loaded shotgun near the U.S. Capitol and hiding explosives in
his truck.
Michael Gorbey, 38, told police he had an appointment with Supreme Court
Chief Justice John Roberts when he was caught on the afternoon of Jan. 18
carrying the 12-guage shotgun on Capitol Hill. He also had a three-foot-long
sword strapped to his back and was wearing a bulletproof vest.
Authorities later found a homemade explosive device behind the driver's seat
of Gorbey's pickup truck parked nearby.
"This is a situation that ... could easily have turned into a major gun
battle," District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Gregory Jackson said. "It
was plain old dumb luck that nobody got hurt - including you, Mr. Gorbey."
Gorbey, of Rapidan, was found guilty in May of 14 charges, including trying
to possess or make a weapon of mass destruction.
He represented himself during a three-week trial, arguing that he was
framed. He accused police of planting explosives in his truck and said he
was only carrying a walking stick when he was arrested. He said images of
him holding a shotgun were altered.
"They want me to look insane," Gorbey said at Friday's hearing.
Prosecutors asked the judge for a lengthy sentence, noting that Gorbey has
refused to consider that he might have mental health problems and need help.
They said that makes him a threat to the public.
"The danger is Mr. Gorbey genuinely believes that he is the subject of a
conspiracy," Assistant U.S. Attorney John Cummings said. "In his mind, the
conspiracy is even bigger than it once was now that he is about to be
sentenced."
Police initially said a bomb squad did not find anything dangerous in
Gorbey's truck, which was parked between the Capitol and Union Station.
But another search several weeks later uncovered a can of gun powder taped
to a box of shotgun shells and a bottle of BB pellets. The truck also held
750 rounds of ammunition.
Three top Capitol Police supervisors were reassigned after that search.
date: Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:42:55 -0600
author: Reality_Check?
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