A 46-year-old Phelps County man was was sentenced to 15 months in prison, Acting United States Attorney Michael W. Reap said Tuesday.

According to court documents filed on Feb. 23, Dean Johnson was in possession of a firearm in Phelps County.  Because of his previous criminal history, he is forbidden by law to own or possess firearms.

Johnson, 46, of Dolittle pleaded guilty July 23 to one felony count of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm.  He appeared Tuesday for sentencing before United States District Judge E. Richard Webber.

This case was investigated and prosecuted as part of the Department of Justice’s Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative, which seeks to prevent violent crime through enforcement of federal firearms laws, such as the law prohibiting convicted felons from possessing firearms.

Reap commended the work on the case by the South Central Drug Task Force, the U.S. Forest Service, Dolittle Police Department, Phelps County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and Assistant United States Attorney Jeannette Graviss, who handled the case for the U.S. Attorney’s Office.