Rock Rapids, Iowa — A Little Rock man has been sentenced to five years in prison for possession of a gun by a felon.
Lyon County Attorney Shayne Mayer’s Office reports that on Monday, April 2, 2018, Joseph Michael Pedersen pled guilty in a plea agreement and was sentenced to an indeterminate prison sentence not to exceed five years for possession of a firearm.
The County Attorney’s office says the charge stems from an incident that occurred in April of 2017 in which Pedersen discharged a weapon in his possession in his home. They say Pedersen was on probation for a weapons violation at the time of the incident. Court records indicate that a child was present at the time and that authorities believed alcohol was involved. The court records say that Pedersen also sustained serious injuries in the incident.
Court records indicate he was originally charged with seven counts of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of child endangerment. They say Pedersen had in his possession a muzzleloader, two revolvers, a 9mm semi-automatic, a handgun, and two shotguns. All but one of the counts of firearm possession were dismissed, as was the child endangerment charge, as part of the plea agreement.
Pedersen’s probation was revoked and the original year-long sentence was imposed concurrently to the five-year sentence. Pedersen was ordered to pay court costs, jail fees, and attorney’s fees.
The County Attorney’s office reports that after sentencing, Pedersen was taken into immediate custody by the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office where he will remain in custody until being transported to prison. The Lyon County Sheriff’s Office handled the investigation and was assisted by the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation.
