Steven D. Underwood

A Purcellville man was sentenced Friday to seven years in prison for violating probation on a 2010 incident that involved a police standoff.

Steven D. Underwood, 54, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Benjamin N. A. Kendrick only 13 months after being released from prison, according to the Loudoun Commonwealth Attorney's Office.

Underwood was on probation after pleading guilty Feb. 14, 2011, to five charges related to a 2010 incident in Round Hill involving himself, his girlfriend, two other individuals and a police stand-off. During the incident, the Loudoun County Sheriff's Office Swat Unit and Negotiations Team were deployed and supplemented by the Virginia State Police and the Fairfax County Helicopter Unit.

Underwood was found guilty of unlawful discharge of a firearm in an occupied dwelling, unlawful purchase or transportation of a firearm while subject to a protective order, assault and battery, reckless handling of a firearm and brandishing a firearm. He was sentenced to two years of active incarceration with an additional seven years of suspended time conditioned upon his good behavior, forfeiture of 17 firearms and compliance with supervised probation.

In April, not more than three months into his supervised probation, Underwood committed new offenses in Pulaski County, the commonwealth attorney's office said. Underwood was convicted of felony possession of a firearm by a violent felon, felony possession of explosives by a felon, felony possession of explosives and four misdemeanor charges related to unlawful hunting in Pulaski County and sentenced to six years and six months in prison and $700 in fines.

“This is the exact type of person that should be watched closely when it comes to the misuse of lawful firearms,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Jim Plowman said in a statement. “Mr. Underwood’s volatile behavior and inability to adhere to Court Orders that are specifically in place for the safety of the community, present a dangerous and unpredictable situation for our citizens.”

Underwood will have an additional eight years and six months of suspended time that could be imposed should he fail to comply with supervised probation upon his release. His anticipated release date will not be until at least 2023.

“A great deal of credit goes to the fine work from the Officers with Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, who were able to secure the convictions in Pulaski County and bring that information forward to our hearing,” Plowman said.