A Selma resident was sentenced to 27 months in prison for possession of two firearms after previously being convicted on a pair of felonies.

U.S. Attorney Richard W. Moore of the Southern District of Alabama said Tuesday that Michael Watts, 40 was in possession of two firearms after previously being convicted of two felonies: first-degree assault and shooting into an occupied building.

Watts entered a guilty plea pursuant to a plea agreement on Feb. 19. He admitted in open court on Dec. 3, 2018 that Dallas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) deputies were working at a driver’s license checkpoint at County Road 81.

Watts approached the check point driving a Grey Ford Crown Victoria and was asked to provide his driver’s license. When deputies asked for Watts’ driver’s license, they smelled marijuana coming from inside the vehicle.

Watts and the other occupant in the vehicle, the front seat passenger, were asked to exit the vehicle. Both did so without incident.

Before officers could conduct a safety check of Watts, he told them, “I have two guns on me.”  The firearms were seized from his front pocket. They are described as a Smith & Wesson, Airweight, .38 caliber pistol, and an FIE, Titan, .25 caliber pistol.

DCSO Deputies and special agents of the ATF both investigated the case and they brought it to the U. S. Attorney’s Office for prosecution.