James Robert Peterson, a 38-year-old resident of Prosperity, South Carolina, has been sentenced to over 12 years in federal prison for possessing a firearm as a felon. This sentence follows his guilty plea.
The investigation revealed that on June 11, 2024, Peterson was found with a firearm during an attempted arrest on a felony state warrant. He used the weapon to fatally shoot K9 Officer Coba of the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). Peterson's previous convictions prevent him from legally owning firearms.
United States District Judge Jacquelyn D. Austin sentenced Peterson to 150 months in prison, followed by court-ordered supervision. It is important to note that there is no parole in the federal system. Earlier this year, Peterson received a separate state prison sentence of 33 years for first-degree burglary, attempted murder, cruelty to a police dog, and resisting arrest with a deadly weapon.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives led the investigation alongside the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department and SLED. Assistant U.S. Attorney Elle E. Klein is handling the prosecution.
