Department of Justice
For Immediate Release
Convicted Felon with History of Domestic Violence Sentenced to 4 Years in Federal Prison
MADISON, WIS. -- Scott C. Blader, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that Edward McDavid, 28, Madison, Wisconsin, was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to four years in federal prison, followed by a three-year term of supervised release, for possessing a firearm as a felon. McDavid pleaded guilty to this charge on December 19, 2017.
McDavid was arrested on August 1, 2017, after the Madison Police Department received a call regarding domestic violence. After police arrived at the residence, McDavid’s pregnant girlfriend told police McDavid threatened to shoot her with a shotgun he had in the apartment, and that he had hit her in the face. McDavid engaged in a stand-off with the police for two hours, before exiting the residence. After doing so, he admitted the shotgun was his. McDavid has a prior felony conviction for armed robbery.
In choosing a four-year sentence, Judge Conley noted that McDavid has been convicted of 11 offenses over the course of eight years, including several for domestic abuse and domestic related threatening phone calls. Further, McDavid was on state probation when he was arrested, and he was on absconder status. Finally, although McDavid accepted responsibility for possessing the firearm, he did not express remorse for any of his prior acts of violence against women.
This case was brought as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that has been historically successful in bringing together all levels of law enforcement to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has made turning the tide of rising violent crime in America a top priority. In October 2017, as part of a series of actions to address this crime trend, Attorney General Sessions announced the reinvigoration of PSN and directed all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to develop a district crime reduction strategy that incorporates the lessons learned since PSN launched in 2001.
The charge against McDavid was the result of an investigation by the Madison Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The prosecution of this case was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Rita M. Rumbelow.