Oct 25, 2012 1 min read

Three Washington men pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to two counts of violating federal firearms laws. Matthew James Comer, 30, of 4 Grove St.; Justin Michael King, 34, of 595 Fayette St.; and Shawn Eugene Rogers, 36, of 23 Scenic Drive, each pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Arthur J. Schwab. In connection with the guilty plea, the court was advised Comer, King and Rogers had 27 prior convictions between them at the time they possessed 14 stolen firearms that included rifles, shotguns and handguns that had been stolen in burglaries between Sept. 8 and Oct. 2, 2008. Schwab scheduled sentencing for Rogers Feb. 13; Comer Feb. 14; and King Feb. 15. The law provides for a maximum total sentence of up to 20 years in prison for Comer; up to life in prison for King and Rogers; and a fine of up to $500,000 for each defendant. All three men have lengthy criminal records in Washington County. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Pennsylvania State Police conducted the investigation that led to the prosecution of the men.