Man sentenced after pointing gun at juveniles

The Charles state's attorney's office announced that James Stephen Gass Jr., 32, of Leonardtown was sentenced on March 22 to a total of 14 years in prison for two separate cases.

Gass was sentenced to 9 years for first-degree assault against four juveniles and the unlawful use of a firearm during the incident.

In a separate case, he was sentenced to an additional 5 years for possessing a firearm illegally due to a prior felony conviction.

On Dec. 1, 2023, Gass entered a guilty plea to the charges.

Gass was accused of driving past four juveniles riding their bikes in Indian head near Chicamuxen Road and Mason Springs Road and pointing a long gun in their direction while shouting a racial slur on June 6, 2023.

The race of the juveniles was not reported in charging documents, though Gass is identified as a white man.

During their investigation, Charles sheriff’s officers located Gass in the area of Bicknell Road, but Gass allegedly fled from the police in a high-speed chase that ended near Budds Creek Road.

An arrest warrant for Gass was issued on June 8, 2023, and he was ordered held without bond on June 9, 2023.