Joshua Allen Morris, Possession of Firearms by a Felon, Missouri 2023

A convicted felon from Southeast Missouri has been sentenced to 110 months in prison for being caught twice with guns and drugs.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Joshua Allen Morris, 39, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau in June to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Morris was initially caught during a traffic stop by the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office on February 20, 2023, where officers discovered two handguns and methamphetamine in his possession.

Just months later, on June 11, 2023, Morris was involved in an altercation at a store where he allegedly pistol-whipped someone. During the investigation, the Kennett Police Department found Morris with a vacuum sealed bag of marijuana, 23 grams of meth, a digital scale, and a .45-caliber semi-automatic pistol under the hood of his car.

Morris has prior felony convictions, making him ineligible to possess a firearm.

The case was investigated by the Dunklin County Sheriff’s Office and the Kennett Police Department, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Julie Hunter serving as the prosecutor.

This case is part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a program that aims to reduce violent crime and gun violence by bringing together law enforcement and the community.

Morris’ sentence serves as a reminder of the consequences of violating the law, particularly for those who have prior felony convictions.

The exact date of the crime was not specified in the report, but Morris was sentenced on Thursday in U.S. District Court in Cape Girardeau. His prior felony convictions and current sentence make him ineligible to possess a firearm.

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