Bowdoinham Man Pleads Guilty to Illegally Possessing Firearms

September 11, 2025

By: Scanner Alerts Media Group

A Bowdoinham man pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Portland to possessing firearms after a prior felony conviction, following a 2024 police response to a Brunswick Walmart that led to the recovery of three pistols from his vehicle.

According to court records, in September 2024 Brunswick police responded to a potential shoplifting incident and were directed to Rodney Skipper, 46, who had gone to his vehicle. Officers noticed an empty pistol holster on Skipper’s hip and were told he had been seen with a firearm before their arrival. A subsequent search of the vehicle recovered a 9mm pistol, a .40 caliber pistol, and a 10mm pistol. Skipper was prohibited from possessing firearms due to a prior felony for assaultive conduct.

Skipper faces up to 15 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000, and up to three years of supervised release. He will be sentenced after the U.S. Probation Office completes a presentence investigative report. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives investigated the case with assistance from the Brunswick Police Department. This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program that brings together law enforcement and communities to reduce violent crime and gun violence.

Credit: U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Maine