West Union man convicted of federal gun charge

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, 31, pleaded guilty to felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition Monday in U.S. District Court. 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 he was to turn himself into Fayette County authorities, he instead assaulted his girlfriend and cutoff 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 his Cannon's father, who had reported it missing to police earlier that day. His father told police he was afraid his son took it because had in the past.

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