‘I finally have my life back’: Frederick County, Md. sheriff responds after federal criminal case against him dismissed

FREDERICK, Md. ( DC News Now ) — Criminal charges against Frederick County's sheriff have been dropped after being indicted for an alleged plan to illegally acquire machine guns.

Hours after a federal judge dismissed federal prosecutors' case to dismiss the charges against him, Sheriff Chuck Jenkins says he feels vindicated.

"This has been pure hell for myself, and my entire family and even my friends," Jenkins told a room full of reporters Tuesday afternoon, as members of the sheriff's office and supporters looked on.

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Last year, a federal grand jury indicted Jenkins and a local gun range owner named Justin Krop for conspiring to illegally acquire machine guns from 2015 to 2022, to demonstrate them to the sheriff's office. Instead, the pair allegedly knew those guns were actually for Krop to rent to his customers.

pleaded not guilty to the federal charges. He took a leave of absence before returning to the job last August.

Jenkins described the case against him as a "malicious personal persecution" Tuesday.

"I feel like this was an assassination attempt very similar to President Trump on July 13, I really do, in retrospect. It was a near miss. I was injured and I was bloodied," Jenkins said, "but I didn't give up the fight. I will never give up that fight I never will."

Jenkins was ordered to surrender his service weapon issued to him as a law enforcement officer, and his personal weapons — not uncommon for defendants to face during federal criminal cases.

After a reporter asked Jenkins if his service weapon was returned, Jenkins gleefully hoisted the right lapel of his sport coat, to reveal a gun in a holster, saying, "Got it back folks, take a look," as onlookers clapped.

Jenkins' co-defendant was previously acquitted.

When asked if he plans to run for re-election in 2026, Jenkins responded, "My focus for the past 587 days has been to get through this [criminal case]. I'm finally through it, and we will talk about going forward some other day."