Published: November 02, 2009 10:02 pm      

Owner of Clarksville gun shop pleads guilty to residential entry in Floyd County

Floyds Knobs man will be allowed to continue keep position at store

Robert J. Johnston, of Floyds Knobs, will be allowed to remain owner of 111 Gun Shop Inc., in Clarksville despite pleading guilty to a felony Monday.

Johnston pleaded guilty to class D felony residential entry and must serve six months on home incarceration plus 80 hours of community service, followed by another year on supervised probation, according to his plea agreement. Floyd County Superior Court No. 3 Judge Maria Granger accepted the agreement.

Floyd County Sheriff Darrell Mills previously told The Evening News and The Tribune that Johnston was caught breaking into a vacant house that was for sale on the 6800 block of Pete Andres Road in Floyds Knobs.

Police received a tip July 10 that a burglary was going to occur at the residence. Undercover officers surrounded the house and observed as Johnston made forced entry through a rear door, according to police.

Mills said that several pool accessories were stacked inside the garage but the rest of the house was mostly empty.

Johnston was charged with class B felony burglary and could have faced six to 20 years in prison if convicted.

Indiana law states that anyone convicted of a felony cannot be issued a retail handgun dealer’s license or a license to carry a handgun, but the plea agreement notes that Johnston will be allowed to remain as owner and officer at the gun shop. He also reserves the right to ask the sentence to be modified to a misdemeanor after he completes probation.

Johnston’s attorney, Stan Faith, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment. Prosecutors were not available for comment.