Reeds Spring Man Sentenced to 15 Years for Illegal Firearm

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a Reeds Spring, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm.

Seth Eugene Henderson, 40, of Reeds Spring, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 15 years in federal prison without parole. Henderson was sentenced as an armed career criminal due to his prior felony convictions.

On June 26, 2013, Henderson pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Henderson admitted that he was in possession of a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol on Dec. 19, 2012. Henderson was the passenger in a stolen truck that eluded law enforcement officers during a pursuit. Henderson, carrying the pistol, fled from the vehicle and was chased by a sheriff’s deputy. After a short chase, the officer subdued Henderson with his Taser and arrested him.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Henderson has two prior felony convictions for distributing a controlled substance as well as prior felony convictions for manufacturing or possessing a controlled substance with the intent to distribute, burglary and possession of a chemical with the intent to manufacture a controlled substance.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Patrick Carney. It was investigated by the Stone County, Mo., Sheriff’s Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.