Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on May 1that Steven Musgrove, 29, of Selden, was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison after a jury found him guilty of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree for possessing a loaded and defaced firearm.

“We will not tolerate felons illegally carrying firearms in our community,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This repeat offender’s history of violent criminality mandates his removal from our streets. We commend the alert bartender and responding officers whose quick actions led to this conviction.”

The evidence at trial established that, on March 22, 2024, Musgrove entered Shakers Pub in Oakdale just before it closed for the night and began having a conversation with the bartender. When a Suffolk County Police Department Sergeant entered Shakers Pub to conduct a routine check of the bar’s liquor license, Musgrove went to the other end of the bar and placed a loaded handgun in the trash before exiting the building. After Musgrove left, the bartender looked into the garbage can, saw the firearm, and alerted the Sergeant.

Law enforcement recovered a loaded and defaced black handgun with an extended magazine from inside the trash can. Video surveillance from the bar showed Musgrove placing the handgun in the trash can. DNA testing also revealed the presence of Musgrove’s DNA on the firearm, the magazine, and an ammunition cartridge.

On March 26, 2025, Musgrove was found guilty of one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, one count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm, a Class E felony, after a jury trial heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Richard I. Horowitz.

Prior to his conviction in this case, Musgrove was previously convicted on Attempted Robbery in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony in 2014, and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a Class C violent felony, in 2017.

On April 29, 2025, Musgrove was sentenced to 16 years to life in prison. He was represented by Pierre Bazile, Esq.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kieran R. Rogers and Patrick J. Mullen of the Major Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective David Leath of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fifth Squad. Significant assistance in the investigation was provided by Jeannie Miller and James Valenti of the Suffolk County Crime Lab and Research Analyst Brooke Baade of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.