BRADGATE — A Bradgate man was sentenced to 21 months in federal prison on Jan. 3 after he admitted to unlawfully possessing a gun, according to the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.

Matthew Fowler, 32, pleaded guilty on Aug. 20, 2019, to one count of possession of a firearm by a felon. He was previously convicted of leaving the scene of an accident in Iowa where death resulted.

Officers with the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office discovered Fowler had unlawfully possessed a gun when they responded to his residence for a domestic disturbance.

According to police, after physically pushing and choking his wife, Fowler used the gun to threaten suicide if she left him.

Evidence produced during the change of plea and sentencing hearings revealed on or about Feb. 20, 2019, when Fowler’s wife threatened to leave him, Fowler reacted by pushing and choking his wife, eventually pushing her outside into the snow.

Fowler held the gun to his head and threatened to kill himself if she left.

He locked his wife outside of the home, separating her from himself and the couple’s infant child.

It was in responding to this domestic disturbance that law enforcement discovered Fowler was a felon and unlawfully in possession of a gun.

Fowler was sentenced in Sioux City by United States District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand. Fowler must also serve a two-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Fowler is being held in the United States Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.