Davenport Man Sentenced for Possessing a Molotov Cocktail

DAVENPORT, IA – On December 14, 2016, Theodore Cooke, 48, of Davenport, Iowa, was sentenced by Chief United States District Court Judge John A. Jarvey to 60 months in prison for Felon in Possession of an Unregistered Firearm, announced United States Attorney Kevin E. VanderSchel.  Cooke was ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

Cooke pleaded guilty to Felon in Possession of an Unregistered Firearm on August 17, 2016.  There was no plea agreement in the case.  According to statements made by all parties during the sentencing hearing, Cooke was in possession of a Molotov cocktail on November 2, 2015.  On that date, Cooke went to a Davenport residence to look for his girlfriend.  After several attempts to get her outside, Cooke lit the Molotov cocktail on fire and threw it at a parked vehicle, causing the vehicle to start on fire.  No one was injured during the incident.  A Molotov cocktail is a destructive device under federal law and must be registered as a firearm.  Cooke has two prior felony convictions in Scott County, Iowa; one for Burglary-First Degree, the other for Burglary-Second Degree.  Cooke also has prior convictions for Assault with Injury, Simple Assault, Cruelty to Animals, and Assault.

This matter was investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Davenport Police Department, and Davenport Fire Department.  The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

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 Media Contact for this release is Rachel Scherle at 515-473-9300, or Rachel.Scherle@usdoj.gov