Lake strip club owner pleads guilty to illegal firearms

Originally published July 24, 2012 at 4:29 p.m., updated July 24, 2012 at 10:08 p.m.

The owner of a Sunrise Beach strip club pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court to illegally possessing 31 firearms.

Jimmy Duane Davis, 55, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Matt J. Whitworth in Jefferson City to being a felon in possession of firearms.

Davis is the owner of the Eclipse Gentleman’s Club.

Federal law enforcement agents executed a search warrant at Davis’s residence and neighboring business on Aug. 19, 2010, after receiving a report that Davis was in possession of firearms.

A gun safe in the basement contained 30 shotguns, rifles and handguns.

Agents also observed numerous rounds of ammunition around the room, and a Springfield Armory 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a case on top of the gun safe.

In addition, five shotgun shells were found in an upstairs bedroom.

According to the plea agreement, Davis purchased 12 firearms-specific hunting permits between 2006 and 2009.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearms or ammunition.

Davis has two prior felony convictions for trafficking in methamphetamine and a prior felony conviction for selling marijuana.

Under federal statutes, Davis is subject to a sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison without parole, plus a fine up to $250,000.

A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the U.S. Probation Office.

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gsbcmo 9 months, 4 weeks ago

Kudos to the Feds for busting a felon in possession of guns and ammo. The law is the law.

BUT thumbs down to the NT editors for the opening of the story. The first sentence implies that it is illegal to own 31 guns. You should have lead off with the second sentence instead of your implied lead that owning too many guns is illegal.

yamahamian 9 months, 4 weeks ago

What do you expect from high school-level 'journalists' with no editor to speak of??

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