Richmond man sentenced to 5 years for illegal possession of firearm

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A Richmond man has been sentenced for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon after an incident in the city in July of 2023.

On Tuesday, June 3, 39-year-old Timothy Garnett Covington was sentenced to five years in prison for the possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to a press release and court documents, on July 23 of 2023, a Richmond Police officer patrolling the Gilpin Court neighborhood in Richmond's Northside noticed a reported stolen vehicle. The officer then followed the vehicle until it stopped.

According to the release, the officer approached the vehicle and asked Covington to turn off the vehicle, which he reportedly refused to do.

When the officer tried to remove Covington, officials said he reached into his waistband for a handgun, after which the officer returned to his car and Covington drove off.

Covington then drove down an alley and abandoned the vehicle, fleeing on foot. Officers then found and detained Covington inside a residence and found two firearms and .5 grams of methamphetamine.

As a previously convicted felon, Covington cannot be in possession of a firearm.