Wood County Man Sentenced for Firearms Violation

TYLER – A 29 year old Dike, Texas man has been sentenced to federal prison for firearms violations. Kerry Lynn Sanders pleaded guilty last December 4, to possessing a stolen firearm and was sentenced in Tyler to 120 months in federal prison today by U.S. District Judge Leonard Davis. Federal prosecutors say on March 19, 2013, Sanders was stopped by Wood County Sheriff’s Deputies due to an outstanding arrest warrant. The deputies arrested Sanders and performed an inventory of Sanders’ vehicle. During the inventory, the deputies discovered a 20gauge, pump-action shotgun behind the driver’s seat. Sanders admitted that he knowingly possessed the shotgun without the consent of the owner, and with the intent to deprive the owner of the shotgun.

Sanders was indicted by a federal grand jury on September 25, 2013, for possessing the shotgun after having been previously convicted of multiple felony crimes including Theft, Attempted Evading Arrest with a Vehicle, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Aggravated Robbery. Federal law prohibits the possession of stolen firearms and further prohibits convicted felons from owning or possessing firearms or ammunition.