Hartford City man charged with firearm crimes
HARTFORD CITY, Ind. — A Hartford City man prohibited from possessing firearms faces a felony charge after allegedly firing gunshots outside an acquaintance's home.
Billy Lee Barley, 40, was charged Tuesday in Blackford Circuit Court with unlawful possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, a Level 4 felony carrying up to 12 years in prison.
Barley was arrested Jan. 14 after Blackford County sheriff's deputies were called to a home along County Road 600-N.
Two people there said Barley had fired gunshots outside.
The Hartford City man at first denied having a firearm, but then acknowledged he had twice fired a handgun found in his car after he had knocked on the home's front door and not received a response.
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Barley maintained he was trying to get the attention of a male acquaintance in the house.
He is prohibited from possessing firearms due to his criminal record. The former North Webster resident was convicted of armed robbery and possession of cocaine in Kosciusko County in 2006.
Also in the local case, Barley faces misdemeanor counts of carrying a handgun without a license, driving while suspended and possession of marijuana.
At the Blackford County jail, according to an affidavit, Barley refused to put a face mask on and struggled with officers.
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Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Gunshots lead to felony firearm charge against Hartford City man
