Columbus man pleads guilty to theft from gunsmith

A Cherokee County man pleaded guilty Tuesday to unlawful possession of a rifle stolen during a burglary at a gunsmith’s residence. Read the full press release below:

Nathan J. Moss, 32, Columbus, Kansas, pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In his plea, Moss admitted he was arrested Aug. 18 after police chased the vehicle he was driving from Crawford to Cherokee County. In the vehicle, police officers found an Anderson Model AM-15 5.56-caliber rifle. The rifle was stolen four days earlier from M and M Tactical Gunsmithing in Arma, Kan.

Moss, who had a prior felony conviction, was prohibited by federal law from possessing a firearm.

Sentencing is set for April 29. Both parties have agreed to recommend a sentence of five years in federal prison. McAllister commended the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Pittsburg Police Department, the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Department, the Arma Police Department and Assistant U.S. Attorney Lanny Welch for their work on the case.