Steele, Mo., man sentenced on firearms charge

A Steele, Mo., man was sentenced to almost eight years in prison for unlawful possession of firearms.

James P. Dalton, 40, was sentenced to 94 months in prison on one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm in a court appearance Monday in U.S. District Court before U.S. District Judge Henry E. Autrey.

On Feb. 22, state law enforcement officers executed a search warrant at Dalton's Pemiscot County residence.

Officers discovered three firearms under the bed: a Norinco 7.62-mm rifle, a Bushmaster .223-caliber rifle and a DPMS .223-caliber rifle.

The Bushmaster and the DPMS rifles were examined by firearms experts who determined that the Bushmaster rifle had been modified from its original, semiautomatic assembly into a fully automatic firearm. The DPMS rifle was discovered with some component parts that, when installed, enabled it to function as a fully automatic rifle as well.

Two magazines for these rifles were also found in the bedroom. One magazine was marked as a Colt .223-caliber magazine. The other magazine was marked as a DSL brand magazine. Both would fit the Bushmaster and the DPMS rifle. The Colt magazine had a capacity of 20 rounds of .223-caliber ammunition when it was loaded.