Shawn Fredrick Kirkley of Salisbury was convicted Thursday in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

According to a news release from the District Attorney’s Office, Kirkley admitted to his status as a habitual felon and was sentenced to a minimum of 58 months to a maximum of 82 months in prison by Judge Anna Mills Wagoner.

According to the news release:

On July 2, officers with the Salisbury Police Department conducted a traffic stop on West Fisher Street in reference to drugs and firearms. A confidential source informed detectives that Kirkley would be in possession of drugs and a firearm. The confidential source stated that Kirkley would be a passenger in a white Chevrolet, traveling near a residence at the 400 block of West Horah Street. Shortly thereafter, officers observed a vehicle matching the description.

The vehicle was occupied by five people, and Kirkley was a passenger. Detectives located a black handgun in the passenger side door, and drugs were located in his pocket. Kirkley admitted the handgun and drugs belonged to him.

Kirkley had previously been convicted of felony common law robbery, felony attempted larceny and felony attempted common law robbery, among other convictions.

Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook said in the news release she appreciated the hard work of Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould and the Salisbury Police Department. Cook said that if her office “had not pursued Kirkley as a habitual felon, he could have received as little as 13 months in prison.”