Franklin Gomar, 42, of Kentucky, formerly of rural Scottsburg, was sentenced to over 8 sears in federal prison after pleading guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and failing to register as a sex offender in the Southern District Federal Court in New Albany.
According to court documents, in January 2001, Gomar was convicted of second degree manslaughter in Jefferson County, Kentucky. In April that same year, Gomar was also convicted of the sexual abuse of a 9-year-old child. The sexual abuse conviction required Gomar to register as a sex offender wherever he lives, works, or goes to school.
Around March 1, 2020, Gomar lived on E. Kinderhook Road in Lexington Township. Gomar failed to register as required by the Sex Offender Registration Notification Act.
On March 13, 2020, law enforcement officers with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, Indiana State Police and School County Sheriff’s Deputies conducted a search warrant at Gomar’s residence in southwestern Scott County. During the search, officers found a loaded Ruger 9mm handgun on Gomar. Officers also located a rifle loaded with a high capacity magazine in the bedroom. The rifle had been reported stolen by the Louisville Metro Police in March of 2019.
Gomar is prohibited from possessing a firearm due to his previous felony convictions.
“This extremely dangerous defendant, one who has displayed a pattern of predatory and violent criminal activity, willfully disregarding the law, and continuing to arm himself, is exactly the type of individual our office works to ensure is behind bars,” said U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, Zachary A. Myers. “I commend the work of the ATF, Indiana State Police, the U.S. Marshals, and the Scott County Sheriff’s Office for tracking down this offender and preventing him from being able to harm or abuse any other vulnerable individuals.”
“The law clearly defines when an individual is prohibited from possessing a firearm. The defendant’s past violent criminal record, including manslaughter and sexual abuse of a child, clearly place him in the prohibited category,” said Daryl S. McCormick, Special Agent in Charge of ATF’s Columbus Field Division. “ATF will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to remove violent individuals from our community and working to keep us all safer.”
“I hope other would-be criminals see these results of this investigation and decide not to visit Scott County,” said Scott County Sheriff, Jerry Goodin. “If you break the law or are a fugitive from justice, we will work with all law enforcement agencies necessary to assist in getting you arrested; it is that simple.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated this case, with assistance provided by the Indiana State Police, Scott County Sheriff’s Office, and U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Region Fugitive Task Force.
The 87 month prison sentence was imposed by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Tanya Walton Pratt. Judge Pratt also ordered that Gomar be supervised by the U.S. Probation Office for five years following his release from federal prison.