Felon Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession
Savon Lee Blanchard admitted in federal court to unlawfully possessing a Glock pistol after a police chase on a stolen ATV in Washington.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Violence
Savon Lee Blanchard, 33, of Temple Hills, Maryland, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Judge Sooknanan has scheduled sentencing for March 2, 2027.
Why it matters
The case involves a man previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter who was prohibited from possessing any firearm. It highlights federal prosecution of felon-in-possession charges arising from encounters with law enforcement in Washington.
Blanchard has pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, and sentencing is scheduled before Judge Sooknanan for March 2, 2027. The final sentence has not yet been set.
The players
Savon Lee Blanchard
Blanchard is a 33-year-old Temple Hills, Maryland man who was previously convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2016.
Judge Sooknanan
Judge Sooknanan presides over the U.S. District Court case and will oversee sentencing in March 2027.
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The ATF is a federal law enforcement agency that assisted in the stop and arrest of Blanchard.
The details
Police stopped Blanchard on April 17, 2026, while he sat on a Yamaha Raptor 700R ATV reported stolen from Anne Arundel County. He fled on foot and dropped a loaded Glock pistol during the chase near Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue NE and Hayes Street NE.
Timeline
April 17, 2026: Blanchard was stopped on the stolen ATV and fled, dropping the pistol.
November 2, 2026: Blanchard pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court.
March 2, 2027: Sentencing is scheduled before Judge Sooknanan.
Legal Context
The charge falls under the federal prohibition on firearm possession by convicted felons, a statute prosecutors in Washington use when a previously convicted person is found armed. Blanchard's earlier manslaughter conviction triggered the federal bar on possession.
The case shows that federal prosecutors can bring firearm charges against previously convicted individuals found with guns during police encounters in Washington. Residents may see continued federal and local coordination on gun enforcement.
The takeaway
Federal felon-in-possession charges carry significant penalties and apply regardless of when a prior conviction occurred. Anyone with a prior felony should understand that possessing a firearm can bring federal prosecution.
What happens next
Sentencing before Judge Sooknanan is scheduled for March 2, 2027, when the court will set Blanchard's sentence.
Further reading
Explore more Washington violence coverage for context on firearm-related cases in the city.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The United States Department of Justice.
