WAMAC, IL — A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced a 38-year-old Centralia man to 20 years in prison after the man had earlier pleaded guilty to two weapons charges.

A federal grand jury indicted Ian Merideth last August on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of stolen firearms. Then in February Meredith pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to Wamac Police Chief Steve Prather, the charges stemmed from an incident last year when an officer noticed Merideth walking in the area and knowing he had a Marion County warrant for his arrest and stopped him. Prather says Merideth told the officer he had a gun on him but before the officer could secure the weapon and cuff him, Merideth fled on foot. In the 300 block of West 15th, the officer reported the subject turned with his gun out and fired four rounds at the officer.

The federal indictment claimed Merideth burglarized a home in Hoffman where he took seven firearms including a Weihrauch .357 revolver that he allegedly pointed at the Wamac police officer later that same day. Merideth still faces an attempted murder charge against the officer in Clinton County Circuit Court.

The case was investigated by the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office, Wamac  Police Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Springfield Field Office.