SEXTON LAW

Gun Crime Lawyer in Covington, KY
At Shannon Sexton Law, we specialize in defending clients against all manner of firearm-related charges throughout Kenton, Campbell, and Boone Counties. From illegal firearm possession to airport gun incidents, our team has secured jury acquittals in every Northern Kentucky jurisdiction. We understand that even a simple oversight—such as accidentally carrying a gun through airport security—can lead to life-altering consequences. As your dedicated firearm offenses defense attorneys, we combine strategic insight with relentless advocacy to protect your rights and your future.
Fighting Gun Charges with Precision, Strategy, and Relentless Advocacy
Gun charges carry serious consequences—both legal and personal. Whether you’re facing a felony for possession or a TSA arrest at the airport, the prosecution is already building its case against you. At Sexton Law, we step in immediately to protect your rights, suppress unlawful evidence, and create a defense that fights back. With decades of courtroom experience and deep local insight into Northern Kentucky’s criminal justice system, we don’t just defend gun charges—we dismantle them. Every case is personal. Every client deserves a fierce advocate. That’s what we deliver.

Why Hire Sexton Law for Your Firearm Case?
Expertise with Airport Gun Charges: If you’ve accidentally took your gun to the airport, our airport gun charge lawyers know how to navigate TSA regulations and federal statutes to get charges reduced or dismissed.
Former Prosecutor’s Edge: Shannon Sexton’s tenure as a felony prosecutor means he knows exactly how the Commonwealth builds firearm cases—giving you a strategic advantage.
Trial-Tested Strategy: Many firms look for quick plea deals, but Shannon Sexton Law builds counter-cases and goes to trial, achieving jury acquittals in Covington, Newport, and beyond.
Local Authority: As a top Boone County attorney KY and Campbell County defense firm, we have deep relationships with local courts and prosecutors.
Comprehensive Representation: From arraignment through appeal, we handle every step—motions to suppress, negotiated resolutions, and full trial defense.

Collateral Consequences Beyond the Courtroom
A firearm arrest doesn’t just risk jail time. You could lose your job, your professional license, your right to vote, or your ability to live in certain housing. Even first-time offenders face a permanent criminal record, public embarrassment, and difficulty passing background checks. This is especially critical for those who work in education, healthcare, security, or public service.
Early Defense Can Make the Difference
Every hour matters after a firearm arrest. The sooner you retain a skilled defense attorney, the more we can do to protect your rights, file suppression motions, challenge the validity of the search or seizure, and pursue alternative outcomes. In many cases, especially where there’s no criminal intent—such as accidentally bringing a firearm through TSA—we’ve succeeded in getting charges dismissed entirely.
If you’re looking for the best accident lawyer in Covington, our record speaks for itself.
Real Client Testimonial:
“I was injured in a serious crash and didn't know where to turn. Shannon and his team handled everything while I recovered. They negotiated hard and got me a settlement that covered every dollar of medical expenses—and more.”
– J.B., Covington

WHAT WE DO
Types of Firearm Offenses We Defend
Accidentally carrying a gun through airport security is surprisingly common. We challenge TSA checkpoint procedures, lack of criminal intent, and search validity to get charges dismissed.
Whether an unlicensed individual or a felon in possession of a firearm, we scrutinize arrest protocols and chain-of-custody to suppress unlawful evidence.
Charged with concealed carry violations or carrying in restricted areas? We examine signage, permit records, and intent to secure reductions or dismissals.
Brandishing a firearm or discharging a weapon in public can lead to felony charges. We build defenses around justification, witness credibility, and video evidence.
Facing an enhanced sentence for using a firearm during another criminal act? We challenge the enhancement by dissecting eyewitness testimony, ballistics reports, and procedural errors.
Domestic violence convictions can trigger lifelong firearm prohibitions. We explore vacatur, appeals, and rights restoration to help clients regain their Second Amendment privileges.

A Trial Attorney with a Family Law Background
As a law student at the University of Kentucky College of Law, Shannon focused on Family Law. He had the privilege of learning from Professor Louise E. Graham, a co-author of "Kentucky Practice: Domestic Relations Law," which is regarded as one of the most authoritative texts on Family Law in Kentucky. In essence, Shannon studied under the expert who literally wrote the book on this subject. Additionally, he has contributed to the Kentucky Law Journal as a published author in Family and Domestic Law.
What Happens When You Get Arrested for a Firearm Offense in Kentucky?
Firearm offenses in Kentucky range from misdemeanor violations to serious Class C felonies. A minor charge—such as illegal possession by someone without a concealed carry permit—can still result in jail time. More severe charges, like brandishing a firearm or unlawful discharge, can carry multi-year prison sentences. Here's how the classification typically breaks down:
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Unlawful Possession of a Firearm
If you’re caught with a firearm and do not have the proper license or legal authority to carry it, you may be charged with a Class D misdemeanor or Class D felony. This can result in up to 90 days in jail, or 1 to 5 years in prison, along with fines up to $10,000 depending on circumstances.
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Felon in Possession of a Firearm
If you have a felony record and are found with a firearm, prosecutors will likely file a Class C felony charge. This offense is punishable by 5 to 10 years in prison, and a fine of up to $10,000. There are very few diversion options available, and prosecutors treat these cases with particular scrutiny.
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Concealed Carry Without a Permit
Even a lawful gun owner can face felony charges if found carrying a concealed weapon without the appropriate license. This often results in a Class D felony, bringing 1 to 5 years of prison time, along with hefty fines and potential restrictions on future firearm ownership.
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Brandishing a Firearm or Unlawful Discharge
Pointing a gun at someone in a threatening manner, or discharging a weapon in public—whether intentional or accidental—can escalate quickly into a Class D or Class C felony, leading to 1 to 10 years in prison, depending on whether anyone was injured, the presence of aggravating factors, and your criminal history.
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Firearm Enhancements to Other Charges
If a firearm is present during the commission of another crime—such as robbery, assault, or drug trafficking—you may face a firearm enhancement, which can significantly increase your sentence. This may include mandatory minimums or stacked prison time that otherwise wouldn’t apply.
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Firearm Restrictions from Domestic Violence Orders
A domestic violence conviction or even a protective order can strip you of your right to possess a gun—sometimes permanently. Violating these restrictions can result in new felony charges and additional penalties, including incarceration and federal firearm bans.


If you need a criminal defense attorney in Covington, you’ve come to the right place. We confront each challenge directly and with determination, ensuring that we consistently achieve and deliver outstanding results for our clients.
Recent Case Victory:
We achieved a positive result for our client. They were stopped by police with 28 grams of marijuana, $2,000 in cash, and a loaded firearm.
We filed a motion to suppress the evidence. Our client rejected a plea deal, and the judge ruled that the stop was illegal. As a result, the court dismissed all charges. At Sexton Law, we do not accept settlements when your future is on the line. Let us fight for you with a defense strategy designed to protect your rights and preserve your freedom.
HOW IT WORKS
Our Firearm Defense Strategy
At Shannon Sexton Law, defending firearm charges isn’t just about creating doubt—it’s about building a strategic counter-case that challenges every piece of evidence the Commonwealth puts forward. We’ve secured jury acquittals in every Northern Kentucky jurisdiction because our defense strategy is built for courtroom confrontation, not quick plea deals. From the first phone call to the final verdict, we tailor every move to achieve one goal: protecting your freedom.
STEP 1
Immediate Case Assessment—Often Within 24 Hours
Time is critical. Within hours of your arrest or consultation, we initiate a comprehensive legal review of your case. That includes analyzing police reports, body cam footage, 911 calls, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage. We identify procedural errors, constitutional violations, and areas of prosecutorial overreach. Early action allows us to preserve crucial evidence, engage with prosecutors before charges are finalized, and take control of the narrative before it’s written.
STEP 2
Constitutional Challenges & Evidence Suppression
Many firearm arrests involve illegal searches, traffic stops without probable cause, or improper police handling of the weapon itself. Our team routinely files motions to suppress evidence based on Fourth Amendment violations. When a stop, search, or seizure is unlawful, we move to have the weapon—and the entire case—thrown out. Suppression motions are a powerful tool that can collapse a prosecutor’s case before trial ever begins.
STEP 3
Expert Witnesses to Challenge Forensics, TSA Protocols, and More
Firearm cases often hinge on highly technical evidence: ballistics, fingerprinting, airport security procedures, or forensic reconstruction. We don’t rely solely on cross-examining the state’s experts—we bring our own. From firearms examiners to TSA regulation specialists, forensic analysts, and even civil rights experts, we build a team that can dismantle flawed government testimony and introduce doubt rooted in science and law.
STEP 4
Strategic Negotiation When It Benefits You
While we’re always prepared to go to trial, we’re also skilled negotiators. If a favorable resolution is on the table—such as dismissals, diversion programs, amended charges, or reduced sentencing—we’ll pursue it with aggressive precision. We know which prosecutors are open to alternative outcomes and which judges will consider mitigating factors. You’ll never be pressured into a plea deal, but you’ll always know your best options.
STEP 5
Trial-First Mentality: We Build Counter-Cases, Not Just Defenses
Too many firms treat firearm charges like a paperwork problem. We treat them like what they are: potential felony convictions that require relentless, high-level trial preparation. That means preparing our own timeline of events, interviewing and subpoenaing witnesses, conducting site visits, and dissecting every detail the prosecution ignores. We don’t just poke holes in their story—we present a competing narrative rooted in your version of events, constitutional protections, and real-world evidence.
STEP 6
Client-Focused Advocacy Every Step of the Way
You won’t be left wondering what’s happening with your case. We keep you informed, prepared, and empowered. From bail hearings to suppression motions, from pre-trial conferences to jury selection, you’ll know what to expect—and we’ll make sure your voice is heard. Whether it’s a first-time offense or a high-stakes felony, our mission is clear: fight smarter, fight harder, and protect what matters most—your future.
WHERE WE ARE
Serving Covington, Newport, and the Tri‑County Region
Shannon Sexton Law is proudly based in Covington, Kentucky—just steps from the Kenton County Justice Center and minutes from courthouses in Boone and Campbell Counties. Our deep roots in Northern Kentucky give us a tactical advantage in every courtroom we enter. We routinely defend firearm charges in Covington, Newport, Florence, Erlanger, Burlington, and Independence. We specialize in handling airport gun charges arising from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)—located in Boone County—where even a simple mistake at a TSA checkpoint can lead to serious legal consequences.

Contact Sexton Law for Gun Crime Defense
When firearm charges threaten your freedom, your job, and your future, you need a defense attorney who won’t back down. Shannon Sexton Law delivers aggressive, trial-ready representation tailored to your case and your goals. If you’re facing a gun-related offense in Northern Kentucky, now is the time to take action. Reach out today and put a proven legal advocate in your corner.
Call (859) 431-9999 now for a free consultation
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