Missouri man sentenced to over 6 years on gun charge in Cedar Rapids

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Missouri man who was busted in March after police saw him discarding a handgun near the scene of another crime was sentenced to over six years in federal prison Wednesday.

Harris Ceaser III, 27, of St. Louis, Mo., pleaded guilty in June to one count of possession of a firearm as a felon. According to a plea agreement, Ceaser admitted he possessed a loaded 9 mm handgun March 24. Cedar Rapids Police identified Ceaser while they were responding to a report of a stabbing in the 1800 block of A Avenue.

The victim was located on the ground with a knife mark in his chest, according to new release. While canvassing the area for evidence, a woman reported to law enforcement that a man, later identified as Ceaser, had run from the scene. An officer found Ceaser nearby but he ran from them.

The foot chase was captured on a patrol car video, which showed Ceaser throwing a handgun over a fence during the chase. Police recovered the handgun that had been reported as stolen.

Ceaser has previous convictions in 2008 in federal court for possessing a firearm as an unlawful drug user and in 2011 in state court for an assault charge.

U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade ordered the six years to run consecutively to a two year supervised release revocation sentence that was imposed April 25, in the 2008 case.