Ely man pleads guilty to firearm, drug charges

CEDAR RAPIDS - An Ely man set to go to trial next week instead pleaded Friday to firearms and drug charges.

Matthew Robbins, 42, pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of being a felon and unlawful drug user in possession of a firearm.

In a plea agreement, Robbins admitted that in 2014 he was using controlled substances, including methamphetamine, and had been convicted of eight felony offenses, including counts related to robbery, burglary, drug possession and drunken driving.

Robbins admitted that despite this, in spring 2014, he had an Iver Johnson 12-gauge shotgun. The shotgun had been left at Robbin's Ely home by another person. Robbins later had a friend store the shotgun at the friend's home.

Robbins faces 10 years in federal prison, unless he is determined to be an armed career criminal based on his record. Then he could face 15 years. He also will be ordered to pay a fine up to $250,000 and undergo supervised release following his prison time.

A judge Wednesday denied a motion by Robbins, who would have been retried Monday after his first trial ended in a hung jury in March, asking the court to prevent the prosecution from naming a missing Marion man, James Booher, who police presume is a homicide victim.

The prosecution's witnesses testified in the first trial about Robbins allegedly buying meth from Booher and about Booher's 'activities” at the Ely farm where Robbins lived in 2014, according to the motion.

The defense was most concerned that a jury would be aware of the news reports about law enforcement searching for Booher, 51, last seen on May 31, 2014, and a forensic team excavating a burn pit at the Ely farm for possible human remains.

Assistant U.S. Attorney C.J. Williams said in his motion there wouldn't be any mention at trial of connecting Robbins to Booher's death but there would be testimony from agents who recovered a shell casings from a .45 caliber brand of ammunition in the burn pile.