A Dunkirk man has been found guilty following a two-week trial involving possessing a loaded handgun.

He could face decades to life in prison due to his criminal history.

District Attorney Jason Schmidt announced that 34-year-old Nathaniel Hollins was found guilty of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, a Class C violent felony, by a county jury in a trial presided over by Judge David W. Foley. The guilty verdict was the result of collaboration between the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Dunkirk Police Department, New York State Police Forensic Laboratory, and Chautauqua County District Attorney’s Office.

On Nov. 8, 2023, Dunkirk Police acted upon a tip provided to them by their federal partners, and apprehended Hollins in the vicinity of Webster Street in the city of Dunkirk. An FBI agent working in conjunction with Dunkirk Police officers found a loaded handgun near the place Hollins was apprehended. DNA analysis was performed by the New York State Police Crime Laboratory in Albany and was crucial to establish that Hollins possessed the loaded handgun.

The case was prosecuted by lead attorney Second Assistant District Attorney Erik Bentley. Bentley expresses his gratitude to his trial team, second chair Assistant District Attorney Andrew Hall, and paralegal Abigail Zatorski.

Hollins is scheduled for sentencing on Aug. 11. He potentially faces sentencing as a persistent felon due to his prior felony convictions and up to 25 years to life as an indeterminate range in state prison.

Hollins was arrested in Dunkirk in October 2013 after an individual was shot in the leg. He was later arrested in July 2019 for a shooting in Jamestown. No injuries were received in that incident but it was reported that Hollins shot at and hit a vehicle.

See the full story in Thursday’s OBSERVER.