Wagoner Man Pleads Guilty to Firearm Possession

Aaron Emil Weeden, 37, of Wagoner, Oklahoma, stood before a federal magistrate last week and admitted to a crime that carries a federal sting: being a felon in possession of a firearm. The plea, entered in U.S. District Court in Muskogee, marks the latest chapter in a case rooted in a November 2016 incident that pulled Weeden into the crosshairs of federal law enforcement.

The charge—FELON IN POSSESSION OF FIREARM, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Sections 922(g)(1) and 924(a)(2)—carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.00, or both. According to the indictment, Weeden knowingly possessed a firearm that had previously moved in interstate commerce, despite having a prior conviction for a crime punishable by more than one year of imprisonment.

The case originated from a joint investigation by the Wagoner Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). While details of the initial discovery remain sparse, federal prosecutors used the investigation to build a straightforward but serious charge under federal gun control laws designed to keep weapons out of the hands of convicted felons.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Steven P. Shreder accepted Weeden’s guilty plea during a hearing in Muskogee, Eastern District of Oklahoma. No deal was cut in open court. Instead, Judge Shreder ordered the completion of a presentence investigation report, a standard but critical step before sentencing, which will determine whether Weeden faces the full weight of federal sentencing guidelines.

Weeden remains in custody as he awaits the final sentencing hearing, with no date yet set. His future now hinges on the findings of probation officers and the discretion of the federal bench. For now, the message from prosecutors is clear: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon is not a minor offense—it’s a federal crime with prison time attached.

Assistant United States Attorney Kristin Harrington represented the United States in the prosecution. The case underscores the federal government’s continued focus on gun crimes in Eastern Oklahoma, where local and federal agencies routinely partner to target illegal firearm possession, especially among those with violent or serious criminal histories.