A resident of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Marlina Dawn Hardbarger, 49, has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Hardbarger admitted to one count that carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
According to the indictment, on September 10, 2025, Hardbarger knowingly possessed a .223-5.56mm caliber semi-automatic rifle despite having previously been convicted of an offense punishable by more than one year in prison.
The case was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Sequoyah County Sheriff’s Office.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Gerald L. Jackson accepted Hardbarger’s plea and ordered that a presentence investigation report be prepared. Sentencing will be determined by a U.S. District Court Judge after review of federal guidelines and statutory considerations.
Hardbarger remains in custody with the United States Marshals Service until sentencing is complete.
Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Olivia Staubus represented the government in this matter.
