Man gets time for possession of firearm
By From staff reports
Published in News on August 11, 2013 1:50 AM
A Mount Olive man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison, followed by three years of probation, following his conviction for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Anthony Earl Rivers, 25, was sentenced last week in federal court by U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan.
On May 4, 2012, the Mount Olive Police Department received a tip from a confidential informant that Rivers, operating under the alias of "Worm," had just been seen driving another person who had been involved in an assault with a firearm on Claytor Street in Mount Olive.
Mount Olive police officers began to look for Rivers and the person who was reported to have committed the assault using a firearm.
Rivers and the other person were found by police a few blocks away on Slocumb Street.
The officers attempted a traffic stop, and as soon as Rivers pulled into a driveway, the passenger jumped out of the vehicle and ran.
Police began a foot chase, momentarily leaving Rivers alone in the driver's seat of his car.
The police car's exterior video camera captured Rivers' actions while he was alone in the car.
The video showed Rivers quickly exiting his vehicle and leaning down into a bush located within a few feet of the car. By the time other officers arrived on the scene Rivers was already attempting to drive away, but was stopped by the other officers before he could leave.
Officers canvassed the area of the chase, but were unable to find a firearm. After searching the vehicle and discovering no firearm, Rivers was allowed to leave.
Within minutes, however, officers discovered the firearm, an Armscor, model Citadel, .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol, located in the bush adjacent to the car.
Officers left the scene, found Rivers, and took him into custody.
Rivers initially denied knowledge of the firearm, but later admitted that he had "stashed" the firearm.
Investigation of this case was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives with the assistance of the Mount Olive Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney William M. Gilmore represented the government.