MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – The Macomb County man accused of calling a mail carrier racial slurs and threatening to retrieve a rifle pleaded guilty to weapons charges.
Michael Sowards, 49, was charged with two counts of firearm possession by a prohibited person, one count of ammunition possession by a prohibited person and three counts of felony firearms.
The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office said on May 4, in the 100 block of Dickinson in Mount Clemens, a mail carrier, a 34-year-old man, asked Sowards to secure his dog to ensure safe delivery.
Sowards allegedly responded by calling the mail carrier racial slurs and threatening to get his AR-15 rifle.
When deputies arrived at the scene, they placed Sowards into custody and found the following weapons in his home:
- One AR-15 style rifle chambered for 7.62x39mm rounds
- Two loaded magazines containing 7.62mm ammunition
- One CO2-powered pellet pistol
- One .22 caliber pellet rifle
- One additional pellet air rifle
On Aug. 10, Sowards pleaded guilty to one count of firearm possession by a prohibited person and ammunition possession by a prohibited person. Other charges were dismissed as part of the guilty plea.
He is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 29 at 8:30 a.m.