Marion man faces federal gun charge after assaulting woman

CEDAR RAPIDS - A Marion man was charged Tuesday in federal court for illegally having a gun after he was arrested earlier this month for assaulting a woman with the gun and then forcing his way into a neighbor's home where she ran to call for help.

Gage F. Skola was charged in U.S. District Court with one count of a felon in possession of a firearm. He is accused of hitting a woman on the back of the head, causing her to bleed, during an argument Feb. 10. She told police she ran from the house they share and went to neighbor's house to call police.

The neighbor, who called 911, told police Skola forced his way into his house and displayed a large, silver handgun, court documents show. Skola pointed the gun at the woman's head and then his own as he stated there was 'going to be a double homicide,” the neighbor told police.

The neighbor said he was able to get the gun from Skola and Skola ran out the door. The neighbor then put the gun in a cabinet, and officers seized it when they arrived. It was a silver Ruger .44- caliber revolver, according to court documents.

Early the next day, Feb. 11, the neighbor called Marion police and reported Skola was back at his residence. When officers arrived they arrested him, court documents show. During an interview, Skola told police he drank a bottle of whiskey the day of the assault and he didn't remember anything after drinking it.

He denied having a gun because he said he wasn't allowed based on his criminal history.

Police told him what the woman reported to them. Skola said if she said it, then it probably happened, according to court documents.

Skola was convicted of felony second-degree domestic assault in Missouri, according to the criminal complaint.

U.S. Chief Magistrate C.J. Williams also ruled to keep Skola in jail pending a detention and preliminary hearing set for Thursday.

If convicted, Skola faces up to 10 years in federal prison.

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