Springdale man gets 9 years in firearm case

A Springdale man was sentenced Monday to nine years' prison for illegal possession of a firearm, U.S. Attorney Conner Eldridge said in a release Tuesday.

Michael Carnes, who had previously been convicted of a felony and who pleaded guilty to the firearm charge in November, was also sentenced to three years of supervised release and a $12,500 fine.

Fayetteville police pulled Carnes over in a traffic stop July 9. Because of Carnes' erratic behavior, police asked to search his vehicle, which resulted in the discovery of a handgun, a knife and $4,000, Eldridge said. After admitting he was a felon, Carnes was arrested.

Police later searched his home, finding two firearms, methamphetamine, a drug ledger and $7,900.

Carnes' previous conviction was in Benton County for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and carrying a prohibited weapon.

"We remain committed to investigating and prosecuting felons in possession of firearms in order to keep our communities throughout the Western District of Arkansas safe from drugs and violence," Eldridge said in the release.

Carnes' case was part of the Department of Justice's Protect Safe Neighborhoods Initiative, aimed at reducing gun and gang violence and deterring illegal possession of firearms.

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