Two Dallas County residents received sentences in U.S. Federal Court in separate cases on Wednesday for firearm possession.

George Armstead was sentenced to 46 months incarceration for possession of a pistol after being convicted of first-degree robbery. Clarence Brenson was sentenced to 27 months incarceration for possession of a rifle after being convicted of second-degree rape.

Armstead pled guilty Sept. 14 and admitted in open court on May 22 that a Selma Police Department (SPD) police officer initiated a traffic stop on a green Honda being driven by him for speeding. During a routine record check, the officer learned that Armstead had an outstanding warrant.

The officer told Armstead he was going to be arrested based on the warrant and asked Armstead if he has weapons or contraband in the vehicle because it would be towed.  Armstead told the officer that “his brother’s firearm,” a Smith & Wesson, .40 caliber pistol, was found inside the vehicle underneath the passenger seat.  The firearm was seized and reported stolen.

Armstead later told the SPD the firearm was his and that he placed it underneath the passenger seat.  Armstead said that he bought the firearm “off the street” for $100 because he thought it was being sold for a good price.  Armstead also said that he bought the pistol for protection.  He further said that he was a felon and was on state probation for first-degree robbery. He was convicted of the crime on April 6, 2015 in the Dallas County Circuit Court.

Brenson pled guilty Sept. 19 and admitted in open court on June 2 that the SPD initiated a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven by a female friend of Brenson’s for failing to yield for an emergency vehicle. Brenson was in the front passenger seat and two small children were in the back seat.

SPD officers smelled the strong odor of marijuana and asked the female driver to exit the vehicle.  When she did, she told the officers she had been smoking marijuana.  Officers asked her if they would find marijuana if they searched the vehicle and she said, “No” because she smoked it all, according to reports.  She gave permission to search the vehicle.

When Brenson exited the front passenger seat officers, observed a Romarm/Cugir, model WSAR-10, 7.62X39 caliber rifle that was loaded. As Brenson was seated, a firearm was between his feet. Brenson told the officers he did not have identification and gave the officers his social security number.

Brenson also told the officers he was a registered sex offender.  A search of the vehicle yielded a small amount of marijuana and spent shell casings from guns other than the rifle Brenson possessed.  At the time, Brenson had been convicted of a felony,a second-degree rape on June 13, 2016 in the Dallas County Circuit Court.