By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
A 45-year-old Stanberry man who threatened law officers during
his arrest has been sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison for a firearm
violation.
Federal prosecutors in Kansas City report Erin Graves has been
sentenced by federal District Judge Howard Sachs for illegally possessing a sawed-off
shotgun.
Graves pleaded guilty earlier this year to being a felon in possession
of a firearm and to illegally possessing an unregistered firearm.
Court documents report Graves referred to the sawed-off
shotgun as his “cop killer,” stating that if he had shells for it, the
officers’ heads would be splattered all over the wall. Graves threatened the
deputy who took him to jail, saying he would kill the deputy and force his family
to watch. Prosecutors say Graves threatened jail staff and his parole officer.
Graves was on parole in two separate state cases at the time
of his federal offense. Graves has five prior felony convictions for stealing,
two prior felony convictions for driving while suspended or revoked, two prior
felony convictions for tampering with a motor vehicle, two prior felony
convictions for burglary, and prior felony convictions for possession of a
controlled substance and resisting arrest.
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