An Iowa City man was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for possessing firearms and ammunition as a convicted felon.
O’Sean Dentale Horton, 29, had two loaded pistols and “a distribution quantity of marijuana” in two backpacks discovered at his sister’s house in December 2020, according to a release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.
Horton was seen in May 2023 “shooting at another person multiple times” on surveillance video in the parking lot of a Coralville apartment complex. Horton was involved in a physical altercation with a group of people in the parking lot that evening, according to court documents.
Horton allegedly left for seven minutes, prosecutors claimed, then returned with a firearm. He hid behind a dumpster as a car left the parking lot, then popped out and shot at the lone person who remained. All five bullets missed the man.
Horton’s gun left behind .40 caliber shell casings. He was on probation for failure to affix a drug stamp.
Horton was also charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, but that charge was dropped as part of Horton’s plea agreement. He pleaded guilty to one count of felon in possession of a firearm in August 2024 and was sentenced on June 26.
Once Horton completes his 10-year prison term, he will be subject to a three-year period of supervised release. The federal prison system does not offer parole.
Horton linked to several gun charges, makes emotional plea at sentencing
Horton popped into the criminal justice system at age 14, prosecutors said, after a shootout between his gang, the “Broadway Goons,” and another rival youth gang. A few months later, Horton allegedly told the juvenile court liaison at his school that he would “shoot up the liaison’s house and family.”
Then, at age 19, Horton was convicted of intimidation with a dangerous weapon without intent to injure in a Johnson County court. He was given a deferred judgment, though three months later, he violated his probation and was ordered to serve the full, five-year prison term.
His criminal background led prosecutors to request the 120-month sentence.
“I know I disappointed a lot of people by being here today, most importantly myself,” Horton wrote in a June 26 letter to the federal court judge. “I was on the right page, working and everything, but my old life got me here today and that person who (I) am not anymore.”
Horton said he would not make excuses for his behavior and stated that he’s young and has “a lot of life ahead of me to turn my life around, so that’s what I will do.”
“I (would) also like to apologize to the community and the others that was involved,” Horton wrote. “I do understand how serious this situation is, so I promise myself every day that I want better and I will do better.”
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Iowa City man tied to 2023 Coralville shooting sentenced to 10 years for gun possession
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
