Clarksville Felon Sentenced to 10 Years for Ghost Gun
A man was sentenced in Montgomery County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to illegal firearm possession.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Crime — General
Live Poll
Do you support stricter local regulations on the possession of privately made firearms?
Christopher George Goodson received a 10-year prison sentence in Montgomery County Circuit Court for possessing a weapon as a violent felon. Officers arrested Goodson following a traffic stop in Clarksville during which they discovered a loaded 9 mm ghost gun.
Why it matters
The case highlights local efforts to combat the rise of untraceable firearms. Authorities recovered 92,702 ghost guns between 2017 and 2023, reflecting a sharp increase in these weapons across the country.
Goodson was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his guilty plea, of which he must serve 45%. The charges were filed in Montgomery County Circuit Court following a traffic stop involving a 9 mm ghost gun.
The players
Christopher George Goodson
The defendant who was sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to possessing a weapon as a violent felon.
Montgomery County Circuit Court
The judicial body that presided over the criminal proceedings and issued the sentence against the defendant.
The details
During a traffic stop in Clarksville, officers apprehended Goodson after he resisted arrest and repeatedly reached for the concealed firearm. The weapon recovered was a loaded 9 mm ghost gun, a type of firearm that has seen a significant rise in recoveries nationwide in recent years.
Timeline
In 2017, there were 1,629 ghost guns recovered.
From 2017 through 2023, 92,702 ghost guns were recovered.
On January 10, 2026, police conducted a traffic stop and arrested Goodson.
On October 23, 2026, Goodson entered his guilty plea.
In 2023, 27,490 ghost guns were recovered.
Legal Context
This conviction aligns with the broader national surge in ghost gun recoveries, which saw annual figures climb from 1,629 in 2017 to 27,490 in 2023. Prosecutions involving these untraceable weapons have become a consistent focus for regional law enforcement agencies.
The case serves as a reminder of local law enforcement's active efforts to remove illegal firearms from the streets of Clarksville during routine traffic stops. Residents should remain aware that officers are actively monitoring for concealed weapons to maintain public safety.
The takeaway
This case illustrates the intersection of local traffic enforcement and the national challenge of regulating untraceable ghost guns. Residents are reminded to cooperate fully with law enforcement during traffic stops to ensure the safety of both the public and responding officers.
Further reading
For more information on local criminal proceedings, visit the Crime — General section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WZTV.
Live Poll
Do you support stricter local regulations on the possession of privately made firearms?
