A LaPaz man has been sentenced to 51 months in prison for a pair of firearms violations. Peter Rink, 41, pleaded guilty in federal court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a shotgun with a barrel less than 18 inches long, according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Thomas Kirsch.
Court documents say Rink was driving a vehicle with a woman who was trying to get away from police, when officers pulled him over. During the traffic stop, they reportedly found a loaded sawed-off shotgun and a loaded nine-millimeter pistol in a backpack on the back seat.
Rink admitted that the two weapons were his, even though he had a prior felony conviction in Arizona for aggravated assault, according to the press release. He also reportedly admitted to sawing off the barrel of the shotgun himself. The backpack also contained methamphetamine, a scale, plastic baggies, and other drug paraphernalia, according to Kirsch.
U.S. District Court Judge Jon E. DeGuilio sentenced Rink to 51 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release.
