By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A 45-year-old Stanberry man who threatened law officers during his arrest has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for a firearm violation.
Federal prosecutors in Kansas City report Erin Graves has been sentenced by federal District Judge Howard Sachs for illegally possessing a sawed-off shotgun.
Graves pleaded guilty earlier this year to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to illegally possessing an unregistered firearm.
Court documents report Graves referred to the sawed-off shotgun as his “cop killer,” stating that if he had shells for it, the officers’ heads would be splattered all over the wall. Graves threatened the deputy who took him to jail, saying he would kill the deputy and force his family to watch. Prosecutors say Graves threatened jail staff and his parole officer.
Graves was on parole in two separate state cases at the time of his federal offense. Graves has five prior felony convictions for stealing, two prior felony convictions for driving while suspended or revoked, two prior felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, two prior felony convictions for burglary, and prior felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest.
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