A man who illegally possessed a firearm pled guilty December 28, 2011, in federal court in Sioux City.
Sterling Clark, 21, from Fort Dodge, Iowa, was convicted of illegally possessing a firearm. Clark was previously convicted of a felony, namely: intimidation with a dangerous weapon on September 4, 2007, in Webster County, Iowa District Court.
At the plea hearing, Clark admitted to possessing a semi-automatic Sig Pro 40 caliber pistol. On August 11 2011, in Fort Dodge, Iowa, law enforcement officers stopped a vehicle occupied by Clark, who fled the vehicle and was later located and apprehended by officers. During a pat down and search of Clark, officers located and seized the pistol from Clark’s shorts pocket.
Sentencing before United States District Court Judge Mark W. Bennett will be set after a presentence report is prepared. Clark remains in custody of the United States Marshal pending sentencing. Clark faces a possible maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment, a $250,000 fine, a special assessment of $100, and up to three years of supervised release following any imprisonment.
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Shawn S. Wehde and was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Fort Dodge Police Department.