Indictments Of Domestic Abusers With Guns Includes Lorain Man

LORAIN, OH — A Lorain man has been indicted for being a convicted domestic abuser with a handgun. A conviction for domestic abuse bars an individual from having a firearm. Law enforcement have cracked down on this offense recently, leading to six indictments against Northeast Ohioans.

“The law is clear: if you have been convicted of domestic violence, even a misdemeanor, or have an active protection order, you are not allowed to have a gun,” U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman said. “Data tells us that more than half of all women homicide victims were killed by their partners. We also know one of the greatest risks for police officers is responding to a domestic disturbance. These indictments will help make our community safer.”

Antonio Stewart, 30, of Lorain, has been charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. Five other men were indicted alongside him, in unrelated cases: William G. Smith III, 33, of Ravenna; Edward Kennerly, 46, of Cleveland; Elijah Harder, 23, of Cleveland; Steven Kennedy, 29, of Euclid; and Jason Calton, 44, of Liberty Center.

Steweart allegedly had a CN Romarm 7.62-caliber assault rifle, a Smith & Wesson 9mm handgun, another handgun, and ammunition. Stewart had a previous conviction for domestic violence, court documents said.

Department of Justice leaders in Cleveland said they have been meeting with local law enforcement and prosecutors, along with domestic violence advocates, to discuss filing more federal indictments against domestic abusers found with firearms.

The DOJ said it was motivated by two primary factors: several Ohio police officers have been killed in the line-of-duty while responding to domestic violence calls recently; and a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that more than 55 percent of the deaths of women came at the hands of an intimate partner. The study examined more than 10,000 homicides between 2003 and 2014.

“We should all feel safe in our homes, with our families, friends, and loved ones,” said Trevor Velinor, special agent in charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “It is a breach of trust when family members suffer violence at the hands of those they trust most. ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure that those who break that trust while using firearms face the full consequences of their actions.”

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