(Spirit Lake)– A Spirit Lake man has been convicted on a federal firearms charge. The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 36-year-old Andrew Mitchell pleaded guilty Wednesday to being a prohibited person in possession of a firearm. He faces up to 15 years behind bars and a $250,000 fine.
Federal prosecutors say Mitchell was stopped on August 8th of this year for riding his bike on the wrong side of the road in Spencer, and that he provided a false name to law enforcement. Additional officers arrived and attempted to handcuff Mitchell, but he resisted. He was then arrested for interference with official acts. A search of Mitchell turned up a suspected THC vape pen, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia, a scale with meth residue, and a loaded 9 millimeter firearm with an obliterated serial number strapped to his chest.
At his plea hearing, Mitchell admitted to being a user of controlled substances which prohibit him from possessing firearms.
Mitchell is being held in the custody of a U.S. Marshal pending sentencing.
