LEONARDTOWN, Md. – John William Loar III of Bushwood, Maryland, recently sentenced to 18 months in jail for illegally possessing firearms, now faces a new 13-count indictment issued by a grand jury in St. Mary’s County. Just weeks after pleading guilty to previous charges of illegal firearm possession despite a felony conviction, Loar is confronted with additional counts related to firearms and ammunition discovered at his residence, as documented in official court filings.
The investigation that led to Loar’s initial sentencing began in October 2023 after authorities received a tip that Loar might be in possession of firearms, a violation due to his 2009 felony assault conviction. Detectives from the St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office reviewed Loar’s social media posts, which suggested recent hunting activity and the presence of firearms, sparking further suspicion. Following these findings, officers from the Firearms Enforcement Unit executed a search warrant at Loar’s residence in Bushwood on November 22, 2023. According to the indictment documents, Loar’s wife initially claimed the firearms had been legally transferred out of the home years prior; however, further investigation led to the discovery of multiple firearms in the residence, including a Remington shotgun and a Ruger revolver, along with various types of ammunition.
On November 1, 2024, Loar was sentenced by Judge Joseph Michael Stanalonis for his July guilty plea to two charges: possessing a rifle/shotgun with a felony conviction and illegally possessing a regulated firearm. Judge Stanalonis sentenced him to 10 years for the felony charge, suspending all but 18 months, and ordered five years of supervised probation upon release. Loar also received a five-year sentence for the misdemeanor charge, fully suspended, with additional probation conditions.
The latest 13-count indictment expands on Loar’s legal troubles, listing new counts for illegal firearm possession and related offenses. Prosecutors allege that despite the recent conviction and sentencing, Loar continued to have access to prohibited firearms. The charges also suggest a conspiracy involving his wife, who may have aided in keeping the weapons within the household. These fresh charges, as outlined in the grand jury indictment, signal an intensified response from local authorities committed to enforcing firearm restrictions for individuals with violent criminal backgrounds.
The additional charges further entangle this already complex case. With these new counts, Loar faces the prospect of even harsher penalties as authorities demonstrate a robust commitment to upholding legal restrictions on firearms for convicted felons.
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Bushwood…where the locals don’t think the laws apply to them.
You mean Lexington park
Great job LEO’s. Jaymi Sterling and your very capable team, this is what the law-abiding citizens need. Judges I’ll wait and see what you do before I comment on what you do. Haven’t been too impressed with past performance.