Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Gregory J. Haanstad, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, announced that on March 18, Douglas T. Murphy, 35, of Oshkosh, was sentenced to nine years’ imprisonment following his conviction last December at a jury trial. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in violation of Title 18, U.S. Code, Section 922(g)(1).

According to court records, on the evening of June 4, 2023, and into the early morning hours of June 5, Murphy repeatedly pointed a Cobra .380 caliber handgun at several children inside a residence located in downtown Oshkosh. Murphy also used the firearm to “pistol whip” his girlfriend, the mother of the children, causing an open wound on her scalp. A 911 call from the children led to an almost 6-hour standoff with law enforcement, who formed a perimeter outside the residence. At around 6 a.m., the City of Oshkosh Police Department SWAT Team entered the residence and arrested Murphy. The loaded firearm was located in close proximity to Murphy at the time of his arrest.

Murphy is a felon several times over, having been convicted in Waukesha, Manitowoc and Winnebago Counties.

At the sentencing hearing, Senior U.S. District Court Judge William C. Griesbach noted the serious and dangerous nature of Murphy’s conduct during the armed standoff. Based on his conduct and extensive criminal history, Judge Griesbach found Murphy to pose a danger to the community and saw a strong need for a lengthy prison sentence to deter Murphy from engaging in further criminal conduct. Upon Murphy’s release from federal prison, he will serve three years on supervised release.

The case was investigated by the City of Oshkosh Police Department with the assistance of the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Mike Schindhelm and Daniel R. Humble.

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