South Carolina Man Took A Gun Into a Federal Building, Now Faces Federal Gun Charges

Police in Washington, DC arrested a South Carolina resident on federal gun charges after he attempted to take a gun into an office building on Capitol grounds.

Ronald William Prestage, 59, has been charged with carrying a pistol without a license, and carrying a weapon outside a home or office, which is a federal crime. Washington, DC does not recognize concealed carry permits from other states, and does not issue its own concealed carry permits. Any weapon possession in the nation’s capital city could end in federal gun charges.

On the morning of Wednesday, July 23rd, Prestage tried to enter the Cannon House Building, which is one of the Capitol buildings housing offices for US Representatives, including South Carolina representatives Tom Rice, Mark Sanford, James Clyburn, and Jeff Duncan. Reportedly, Prestage had a meeting with Rep. Jeff Duncan at 4:20 PM. When he attempted to enter the building, a loaded 9 mm handgun was found in his bag. He was arrested on federal gun charges.

Prestage is a veterinarian, poultry and hog farmer, and is the president of Prestage Farms in Kershaw County. He is also the president-elect of the National Pork Producers Council.

So far, Prestage has not stated why he brought the gun to the Capitol building. He was taken to the Capitol Police Department’s Central Cell Block.

Federal Gun Charges in South Carolina

According to federal law, federal gun charges involve:

(1) who has been convicted in any court of, a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year

(2) who is a fugitive from justice;

(3) who is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (as defined in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.802));

(4) who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or who has been committed to a mental institution;

(5) who, being an alien-

(A) is illegally or unlawfully in the United States; or

(B) except as provided in subsection (y)(2), has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa (as that term is defined in section 101(a)(26) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.1101 (a)(26)));

(6) who has been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions;

(7) who, having been a citizen of the United States, has renounced his citizenship;

(8) who is subject to a court order that-

(A) was issued after a hearing of which such person received actual notice, and at which such person had an opportunity to participate;

(B) restrains such person from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner of such person or child of such intimate partner or person, or engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable fear of bodily injury to the partner or child; and

(C) (i) includes a finding that such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate partner or child; or

(ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury; or

(9) who has been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence,

to ship or transport in interstate or foreign commerce, or possess in or affecting commerce, any firearm or ammunition; or to receive any firearm or ammunition which has been shipped or transported in interstate or foreign commerce.

The Strom Law Firm Defends Federal Gun Charges

If you or a loved one are facing federal gun charges, contact the criminal defense attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLC today for a free consultation to discuss the best defense for your case. Contact us today at 803.252.4800