Iowa man gets 9 years for illegal firearm possession

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) - A north-central Iowa man has been sentenced to nine years in federal prison after pleading guilty to drug use and illegal firearm possession charges.

Officials say 32-year-old Mark Harken, of Aplington, received the prison term Tuesday in Cedar Rapids. The sentence comes after his August 2014 guilty plea to one count of being a felon and illegally using methamphetamine while in possession of firearms and ammunition.

According to a press release, Harken said he had five firearms, including one semi-automatic rifle. The release says evidence at Harken's sentencing shows he had the firearms when police pulled him over in April, and that he assaulted the officer following the traffic stop. Harken was later arrested.

Harken remains in the U.S. Marshal's custody until transport to federal prison.