Calhoun County Man Sentenced to More than 3 Years in Prison for Illegally Possessing a “Glock Switch”

ANNISTON, Ala. – A Calhoun County man has been sentenced for illegal possession of a “machine-gun”, announced U.S. Attorney Prim F. Escalona.

United States District Judge Corey L. Maze sentenced Austin Heath Church, 38, of Anniston, Alabama, to 39 months in prison. Church pleaded guilty in September 2025 to two counts of possession of a “machine-gun”.

According to the plea agreement, on February 8, 2025, Jacksonville Police officers were investigating an alleged violation of a Protection from Abuse Order in Jacksonville, Alabama.  Officers searched the area and located Church in a business parking lot in Jacksonville. As Church got out of his vehicle, officers approached him.

While speaking with Church, officers noticed a magazine pouch on Church’s hip.  Officers found three loaded Glock magazines inside the pouch.  Officers also recovered a Glock 9mm pistol that had been converted to a “machine-gun” using a conversion device, commonly referred to as a “Glock switch,” from Church’s waistband. During the execution of a search warrant that officers obtained for Church’s vehicle, officers recovered seven additional firearms and a conversion device for an AR-type rifle (drop-in auto scar).

ATF investigated the case along with the Jacksonville Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Brittney L. Plyler prosecuted the case.