Ripley County man pleas to illegally possessing firearm

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- A Ripley County convicted felon who tried to dispose of a pistol during a traffic stop faces up to 10 years in prison after the weapon was found and turned over to authorities by a citizen.

Timothy Ossana pleaded guilty as charged Monday to the felony of being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

The agreed-upon facts of the case say on Jan. 8, Missouri State Highway Patrol Trooper Chance Berry was patrolling in Ripley County when he stopped a Chevrolet Blazer for an expired license registration offense.

“During that traffic stop, a citizen brought a pistol to the officer and stated that he had discovered the pistol lying near the roadway where Ossana had just driven,” according to the plea agreement signed by Ossana.

The weapon reportedly was identified as a Jennings .380-caliber pistol.

“Ossana later admitted that he had been assaulted by some people and that he acquired the pistol for his protection,” the plea agreement further says.

At the time Ossana possessed the firearm, he was a convicted felon.

Ossana previously had been convicted of the felony of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon/dangerous instrument in Pima County, Arizona, in April 1999; the felonies of felon possession of a firearm in the Eastern District of Missouri, Southeastern Division, in May 2010 and September 2014.

After accepting Ossana’s plea, U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp set sentencing for Feb. 16.

At that time, Ossana faces up to 10 years imprisonment, followed by up to a three-year period of supervised release.