DAKOTA CITY — A Dakota City man who unlawfully possessed a gun and fired it dangerously close to a school bus while hunting pheasants was sentenced on Thursday to more than six years in federal prison, according to the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa.

Christopher Powell, 39, pleaded guilty in June 2019 to possession of a firearm and ammunition by a prohibited person.

During the court hearings of the case, it was revealed that Powell had been pheasant hunting when a sheriff’s deputy discovered he had unlawfully possessed the weapon.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, while Powell was pheasant hunting, he fired the gun dangerously close to a home and a school bus that was dropping off a young child.

An off-duty deputy who was waiting to pick up his child from the school bus, confronted Powell about his actions.

Court reports revealed that Powell had been using methamphetamine while hunting.

A review of Powell’s criminal history showed that he had previously been convicted of third-degree burglary.

Investigators said Powell attempted to undermine the law that prohibits felons from lawfully possessing firearms by asking his wife to purchase the gun for him.

Powell was sentenced in Sioux City by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Leonard T. Strand.

He received a 73 month sentence.

Powell must also serve a one-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system.

Powell is being held in the U.S. Marshal’s custody until he can be transported to a federal prison.

The case was investigated by the O’Brien County Sheriff’s Office. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Forde Fairchild.