Cedar Rapids man who threatened to kill woman convicted in federal court on gun charge

CEDAR RAPIDS - A man who threatened to kill a Cedar Rapids woman was convicted by a jury Friday, following a two-day trial in U.S. District Court.

Darrell J. Sims, 29, of Cedar Rapids, was convicted of one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. The jury came back with a verdict after about 90 minutes of deliberation.

Evidence showed that during a phone call on Jan. 27, Sims threatened to kill a woman. The woman asked him how he was going to kill her and he said look under her mattress, when she did so she found a loaded revolver and a pistol.

The woman contacted the U.S. Marshals and two deputy marshals came and collected the firearms, according to testimony. While the deputies were at the home, Sims called the woman again, and the deputies recorded the conversations, where Sims accused the woman of allowing his guns to be stolen.

U.S. District Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand is to set sentencing after a presentence report is prepared.

Sims faces up to 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine. He remains in custody pending sentencing.

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