A Jefferson City man was sentenced in federal court Wednesday for illegally possessing firearms.
Terrence Lamar Hawkins, 46, was sentenced to five years in federal prison without parole.
On Nov. 4, 2014, Hawkins was convicted at trial of two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm.
Hawkins was found guilty of possessing a Hi-Point .40-caliber semi-automatic pistol on Feb. 24, 2011. Hawkins was also found guilty of possessing a Hi-Point 9mm semi-automatic pistol on March 24, 2011. Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Hawkins has a prior felony conviction for unlawful use of a weapon in Cole County.
Evidence introduced during the trial indicated that Hawkins was arrested twice by the Lincoln University Police Department at the Scruggs Student Center cafeteria. At the time of both arrests, Hawkins was carrying a concealed handgun.
On Feb. 24, 2011, Hawkins, who appeared to be intoxicated, was confronted by police officers in the student center cafeteria. Officers noticed a bulge in his front, left pocket. When questioned about the bulge, Hawkins stated that it was nothing. When informed that officers were going to check his pockets, Hawkins attempted to flee and was detained by officers. Officers recovered a loaded Hi-Point .40-caliber pistol from Hawkins who was then arrested and warned that he would be arrested for trespassing if he returned to Lincoln.
On March 24, 2011, officers were dispatched to Scruggs after a report that Hawkins was there, in violation of the trespass order, and he was subsequently arrested for trespassing. During a search, a loaded Hi-Point 9mm pistol was found in his pants pocket.