Mission Man Sentenced for Gun Crime After 3 Felony Convictions

A 38-year-old Mission, South Dakota, man has been sentenced to federal prison time for possessing a firearm despite having multiple felony convictions.

Vernon Robert Schmidt, also known as Sonny Bob Schmidt, was sentenced to two years and 11 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, and ordered to pay $100 special assessment to the Federal Crime Victims Fund, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

Schmidt’s conviction stems from an incident on May 18, 2022, near Mission, where law enforcement found him in possession of a loaded 9 mm pistol during a search. He had been wanted for a domestic dispute earlier in the day.

The conviction is not Schmidt’s first run-in with the law. He has three prior felony convictions in U.S. District Court, District of South Dakota. In 2005, he was convicted of Assaulting, Resisting, and Impeding a Federal Officer; in 2006, he was convicted of Escape; and in 2015, he was convicted of Assault Resulting in Serious Bodily Injury.

As a result of these convictions, Schmidt is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition. He will also forfeit ownership of the firearm to the United States.

The case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence in communities. The case was investigated by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe Law Enforcement Services and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kirk Albertson prosecuted the case.

Schmidt was immediately remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after the sentencing on April 15, 2024. The incident highlights the ongoing issue of gun violence in the United States and the importance of addressing the root causes of violent crime.

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