A convicted felon caught in possession of a firearm earlier this year was sentenced to three years in prison Monday after pleading guilty in Garland County Circuit Court.
Duane Robert Starr, 45, who was on parole at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by certain persons, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, with his sentence to run concurrently with the violation of his parole. Court costs were expunged for time served.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on March 27, around 11 p.m., Garland County sheriff's Cpl. Robbie Swinney and Sgt. Greg Kellar responded to a call of people arguing at a camper on Biscayne Street and a gunshot being heard in the area around Cadillac Point, about one block away.
They arrived and began checking the area and went to the camper on Biscayne where they heard movement inside. As Swinney was about to knock on the door, a white male, later identified as Starr, suddenly opened the door.
Swinney notes he saw a black cylinder-shaped object in Starr's hand he thought was a gun. He drew his duty weapon and ordered Starr to show his hands as he attempted to hide the object.
He was detained and while talking with him, Kellar noted a handgun on the counter near the door in plain view. A criminal history check showed Starr was convicted of felony aggravated assault on Aug. 10, 2015, and also had a warrant for failure to appear so he was taken into custody.
Starr told the deputies a family member who claimed to be suicidal had given him the gun to keep. As a convicted felon, Starr was prohibited from owning or possessing any firearms.
Local on 05/24/2018