Madison man pleads guilty to federal weapons charge

MADISON - A Madison man has pleaded guilty to a federal charge of being a felon in possession of firearms.
Joseph Alan James, 29, of Madison, was arrested in July and had faced multiple firearms violation charges in addition to burglary and criminal damage to property charges. The state charges were dismissed last week, while the U.S. Attorney’s office pursued federal charges.
The guilty plea was announced in a news release Thursday by the Lac qui Parle County Attorney’s Office. James remains in federal custody.
A sentencing date has not been announced. According to the news release, federal sentencing guidelines indicate the sentence could range from 8 years and 1 month to 10 years and 1 month.
James had been charged with 22 felony charges in state court in Lac qui Parle County. In addition to being charged with being a felon in possession of firearms, he was also charged with possessing a pistol or assault weapon after being convicted or adjudicated delinquent of a violent crime and with possessing firearms with altered serial numbers.
He also faced charges of theft of firearms, possession of a short-barreled shotgun, first-degree criminal damage to property and third-degree burglary.
Surrounding homes were evacuated during a search of James’s home in Madison in July, according to news releases issued at that time. Several agencies were called to assist the Lac qui Parle County Sheriff’s Office with the search. James was arrested after he voluntarily came out of his home following a three-hour standoff.
According to documents in the state court case, James had been accused of attempted burglaries at Kleinbank and the Municipal Liquor Store in Madison.
He had also been connected a burglary of Light’Em Up Gunsmithing LLC in Madison.
A criminal history check showed that James had previously been adjudicated delinquent of felony sexual assault of a child and had a history of narcotic possession.
It is illegal for a felon to possess a firearm in Minnesota.