Kanawha County man receives maximum sentence for gun incident – ​​WCHS Network | News • Sports • Business

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A Kanawha County man was sentenced to the maximum penalty for weapons offenses.

James Kline, 43, of Elkview, was sentenced Monday to the maximum term of 10 years in prison after being found guilty in April of illegal possession of a firearm and reckless endangerment.

On December 13, 2023, a call was made in Elkview about “suicidal ideation.” Shortly after, another call was made stating shots had been fired. When officers arrived, they saw Kline walking toward them, carrying an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle with a 30-round magazine and a ballistic vest. The gun was loaded with 28 unfired rounds, and Kline was carrying three additional 30-round AR-15 magazines and three loaded 15-round magazines for a Glock pistol.

No one was injured in the incident because Kline dropped his weapon over a railing as patrol cars approached him.

Kline was banned from possessing firearms in the US state of Pennsylvania in 2004 after being convicted of burglary.