Gun case continued
By Alexandra Bogdanovic
The case of a Sumerduck man charged with nine counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon has been continued.
Christopher Mark Dowd, 30, was scheduled to appear in General District Court Aug. 21. However, the preliminary hearing was rescheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 22.
His arrest stemmed from what began as an investigation of possible animal cruelty or neglect.
During a consent search on Dowd's property on July 28, Fauquier County Deputy Lane Phillippe — who is assigned to the Animal Control Division of the Fauquier County Sheriff's Office — said he saw a black-powder rifle and several shotguns in an outbuilding. The firearms were easily visible, he added.
Authorities confiscated several firearms during the ensuing investigation.
Sixty-five animals were also removed from the property. Of those, approximately 42 were seized, according to Phillippe. The rest were surrendered voluntarily.
During a previous court appearance, Dowd agreed not to try to reclaim the animals.
He remains in custody on the firearms charges, according to court records.
E-mail the reporter: abogdanovic@timespapers.com