Norfolk, Va. - Wesley Hadsell pleaded not guilty to a federal weapons charge in court on Wednesday.
Hadsell faces life in prison for having ammunition inside of his Norfolk hotel room. The charge arose from the police investigation into the disappearance and death of his adopted daughter Anjelica "AJ" Hadsell.
AJ's remains were found in April behind an abandoned home in Southampton County. A Medical Examiner later determined that AJ died from acute heroin poisoning.
Hadsell was never charged in her death but could face life in prison if convicted on the federal weapons charge.
Court records say Hadsell, a convicted felon, hid 80 bullets in his hotel room, many of which were found stashed in an air conditioning vent.
He spoke to NewsChannel 3 about that discovery back in August.
"Those bullets were not put in that hotel room by me. They weren't put in that air duct by me," he said. "I do know that as a convicted felon, I would not have ammunition in my hotel room."
To get the maximum sentence, prosecutors will try and prove Hadsell is an armed career criminal, meaning he's been convicted of three or more violent felonies.
Hadsell has a long criminal record. It includes a federal bank robbery in 2006, felonious restraint and breaking and entering in 1998 and second degree burglary in 1999.
His trial date is scheduled for November.
Related:
Norfolk teen: ‘Hadsell terrorized my family’
Hadsell letter: ‘I feel like someone is setting me up for the big one’
Wesley Hadsell indicted on possession of ammunition charges
Wesley Hadsell now facing federal weapons charge, state charges dropped
Wesley Hadsell writes poem for dead adopted daughter while in solitary confinement
Wesley Hadsell on upcoming court date: ‘I’m ready to fight’
Judge dismisses Jennifer Hadsell’s charges involving buying alcohol for minor
Wesley Hadsell’s mother on son’s arrest, AJ’s death: ‘We are a family that has imploded’
Medical Examiner: AJ Hadsell died from “Acute Heroin Poisoning”
Grand Jury indicts Wesley Hadsell on 6 felony charges
Norfolk Tides taking action to renovate local Little League park
A.J. Hadsell’s aunt suspects more than one person responsible for missing teen’s death
