A Newton man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, William Eric Chapman, 41, was found in possession of a firearm by officers of the Meridian Police Department on January 30, 2020, during an investigation into an alleged assault.
Chapman, who has several prior felony convictions, had a .556 caliber rifle and a sawed-off shotgun in his motel room. As a convicted felon, it is illegal for Chapman to have a gun.
Chapman pled guilty earlier this year to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The Meridian Police Department and the ATF investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham prosecuted the case. The U.S. Attorney is Darren J. LaMarca and the Special Agent in Charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is Kurt Thielhorn.
