KC Area Man Sentenced to 12 Years for Illegal Firearm

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tammy Dickinson, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced a homeless man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm and ammunition.

Shain D. Sohl, 36, with no legal address, was sentenced by U.S. Chief District Judge Greg Kays to 12 years and six months in federal prison without parole.

On Feb. 18, 2015, Sohl pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm and to being a felon in possession of ammunition.

On July 15, 2014, Sohl’s ex-wife reported to law enforcement that Sohl had fired a pistol at her while she was driving him in a truck. During the trip, Sohl became verbally abusive toward her and started grabbing the steering wheel. She attempted to pull the truck over and Sohl grabbed her and with his other hand drew a small pistol from his right front pocket and fired one round from it. The bullet grazed the right side of her face near her ear. A Jackson County sheriff’s deputy later located a single bullet that passed through the driver’s seat and then into the rear of the passenger door handle.

According to court documents, Sohl threatened his ex-wife with death and physically assaulted her on multiple occasions, although he had a protective order lodged against him.

On Feb. 25, 2014, the clerk of the Drury Inn Hotel reported suspicious activity to the Independence, Mo., Police Department. The clerk informed police officers that he smelled marijuana in the hallway outside of Sohl’s room and that he wanted the occupants evicted. A records check revealed an outstanding warrant for Sohl. The officers knocked on the door and, after an extended period, Sohl answered. The officers arrested Sohl on his outstanding warrant and received consent to search the room. They found a portable safe that contained a loaded Beretta pistol, 17 syringes, a notepad with dollar figures and $5,709 in cash.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Sohl has a prior felony conviction for possession of a controlled substance.

According to court documents, Sohl engaged in a course of conduct over a term of several months that involved multiple instances of aggressive, violent and stalking behavior, including threats to kill his ex-wife and threats to kill her child. He has been found with different firearms on multiple occasions.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bruce Clark. It was investigated by the Kansas City, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.