Charleston man sentenced to nine years for unlawful firearm possession

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

CHARLESTON, Mo., (KBSI) — A Charleston man has been sentenced to nine years in prison after a Mississippi County jury found him guilty of unlawful possession of a firearm, according to the Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

Deriechess Moore was sentenced March 3 by Judge R. Zac Horack to serve nine years in the Missouri Department of Corrections.

Prosecutors said Moore had previously been classified as a prior and persistent felony offender, which increased the potential range of punishment under Missouri law.

The conviction stems from a June 2, 2023, incident in which law enforcement responded to reports of reckless driving and a firearm being pointed at individuals. During a traffic stop, officers located a firearm within Moore’s reach. Because of prior felony convictions, Moore is legally prohibited from possessing a firearm.

Mississippi County Prosecuting Attorney Claire Poley said enforcing firearm restrictions for convicted felons is critical to public safety.

“Keeping firearms out of the hands of convicted felons is essential to protecting our community and reducing gun violence,” Poley said in a statement.

Officials also thanked the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office and the Charleston Department of Public Safety for their work on the case, as well as jurors and court staff involved in the proceedings.