Portsmouth, Va. – A local judge affirmed on Thursday that former Portsmouth police officer Stephen Rankin will keep the firearm rights restored to him earlier this year. The decision came after the Commonwealth’s attorneys sought to reopen the case and overturn the September 4 order.
Background of the case
Rankin was a Portsmouth police officer when he fatally shot 18-year-old William Chapman outside a Walmart in 2015 while responding to a shoplifting report. A jury convicted Rankin of voluntary manslaughter, and he served two and a half years in prison.
In July, Rankin petitioned the court to have his firearm rights restored. The court granted the petition on September 4 after the Commonwealth agreed to the restoration, according to court records.
Prosecutors’ challenge
Commonwealth Attorney’s Office later asked the court to reconsider, arguing that the office had not received or reviewed Rankin’s petition and supporting documents. Commonwealth Attorney Anderson contended that the court no longer had jurisdiction to revisit the decision because the statutory deadline of 21 days had passed.
Anderson also noted that prosecutors had been served with Rankin’s petition months earlier, giving them ample time to object before agreeing to the restoration.
Judge’s ruling and rationale
The judge sided with Anderson’s view that the deadline barred the Commonwealth from reopening the case. He emphasized that constitutional rights should be difficult to take away and straightforward to regain once a person has satisfied the law.
Anderson added that Rankin has completed his sentence, is no longer on probation, and has paid his debt to society. “He is a free man, and he should have his rights restored,” Anderson said.
Reaction
Rankin declined to appear on camera for an interview but confirmed he agreed with Anderson that no further action was planned at that time.
The Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office was contacted for comment but had not provided a statement at the time of publication.
Original reporting: WTKR News 3 (Scripps) – local — read the source article.
