SALISBURY — A Kannapolis man was recently sentenced to more than 15 months in prison on felony gun charges after a Superior Court jury trial.

Emmanuel Alexander Parrish was convicted in Rowan County Criminal Superior Court of felony possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, felony carrying a concealed gun, and failure to stop at a stop sign, according to Rowan County District Attorney Brandy Cook.

After the jury’s guilty verdict, Judge Susan E. Bray sentenced Parrish to a minimum of 15 months or a maximum of 27 months in prison.

The conviction stems from an April 6, 2016, arrest after he ran a stop sign.

A Rowan County sheriff’s deputy saw a black sport utility vehicle run a stop sign at Blackwelder and Main streets in Kannapolis, a statement said. The deputy had to apply his brakes to avoid hitting the SUV. The deputy stopped the vehicle and approached the driver, who was later identified as Parrish. The deputy said he smelled marijuana, and Parrish told the deputy he had smoked all he had. Parrish said the vehicle was registered to his mother but that he drives and maintains the vehicle as if it were his own.

The deputy asked Parrish to step out of the vehicle and another deputy arrived for assistance. Deputies searched the vehicle and found a pair of shoes that appeared to have marijuana remnants in them and a loaded revolver that was near the middle console.

Parrish had previously been convicted of misdemeanor carrying a concealed gun, felony possession of cocaine, and robbery with a dangerous weapon, among other convictions.

Cook said she appreciates “the dedication of Assistant District Attorney Tim Gould in the prosecution of the case, along with the thorough investigation conducted by the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office.” Cook said the prosecution of convicted felons who illegally possess firearms continues to be a priority for her office.

— Shavonne Walker