Firearm charge nets 7 years

COEUR d'ALENE - A Coeur d'Alene man was sentenced to seven years in federal prison Monday for unlawful possession of a firearm, the U.S. Attorney's Office announced.

Christopher Clay Gober, 32, was also ordered by U.S. District Judge Edward J. Lodge to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term and 100 hours of community service.

Gober pleaded guilty to the charge in September.

According to the plea agreement, a probation search was conducted April 18, 2010, on a room Gober was renting at a hotel in Coeur d'Alene. Based upon items found in the room, which included used syringes, two methamphetamine pipes, a box of .38 ammunition and other items, the probation officer decided to search the defendant's vehicle, a Dodge Charger, where a loaded .38 caliber handgun and six loose rounds of ammunition were in a lock box.

Gober admitted there was a .38 pistol inside the lock box. A convicted felon, Gober is prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition due to prior felony convictions for aggravated assault, intimidating a witness, manslaughter, and escape, the press release stated.