Felony Firearm Charge Lands Sedalia Man in Federal Court
A 27-year-old Sedalia man is facing up to 10 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. According to court documents, Justin Lee Denny, of Sedalia, Missouri, admitted to possessing a Kel-Tec .380-caliber semi-automatic pistol on November 21, 2017.
The incident occurred when a Sedalia police officer was conducting a traffic stop on Denny. However, when the officer activated his emergency lights, Denny accelerated away from the patrol car. The officer pursued Denny for about two blocks before he pulled over.
During the pursuit, the officer noticed that Denny appeared to be moving something with his hands in the middle of the seat. When the officer approached his truck, Denny was nervous and his hands were visibly shaking. The officer then searched the truck and recovered the pistol, which had been reported stolen out of Sedalia, as well as a black pouch containing several plastic Ziploc bags, including one baggie with suspected methamphetamine.
Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Denny has three prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and two prior felony convictions for driving with a revoked/suspended license.
A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Lawrence E. Miller, and was investigated by the Sedalia, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The defendant, Justin Lee Denny, is currently awaiting sentencing. According to federal statutes, he is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole.
**MANDATORY FACTS**
**Defendant:** Justin Lee Denny
**Crime:** Being a felon in possession of a firearm
**City and State:** Sedalia, Missouri
**Date:** November 21, 2017
**Sentence:** Up to 10 years in federal prison without parole
Key Facts
- State: Missouri
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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