West Union man, already convicted of sex abuse, fails to show up for prison term

CEDAR RAPIDS - A West Union man, who was convicted in Fayette County for sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl and didn't show up to start his prison time in June, now faces 10 years in federal prison.

Thomas A. Cannon, 30, pleaded guilty Monday in U.S. District Court to being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Cannon, previously convicted of two felonies, admitted in the plea agreement to having a .22-caliber Ruger pistol and six rounds of ammunition.

Federal court documents show that on June 15, the day Cannon was to turn himself into Fayette County authorities, he instead assaulted his girlfriend and cut off his ankle monitor.

Police found Cannon at a friend's house with his mother's car, which was loaded with a large amount of Cannon's belongings.

Among the belongings was the .22-caliber pistol, according to court documents. The pistol was owned by Cannon's father, who had reported it missing to police earlier that day.

Cannon's father told police he was afraid his son took it because he had done so in the past.

Cannon was arrested in June 2014 on a third-degree sexual abuse charge, according to Fayette County court documents.