Mansfield man with long criminal record sentenced to 15 years in prison for firearms crime

A Mansfield man with a long criminal record was sentenced to 15 years in prison for a firearms crime.

James D. Butler, 56, was sentenced after a jury last year found him guilty of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Butler possessed a Walther 9 mm pistol and ammunition, on Aug. 24, 2017, despite prior convictions for aggravated arson, aggravated assault, robbery and burglary, according to the indictment.

Butler was arrested after the owner of Madison Sporting Arms in Mansfield complained Butler stole the firearm from his store and showed a police officer video surveillance that recorded the theft, according to court documents.

This case was investigated by the Mansfield Police Department and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Aaron Howell and Peter Daly.