CASSOPOLIS – A Cassopolis man was found guilty in Cass County's first jury trial since March 2020.

The Cass County Prosecutor's Office says a Cass County Circuit Court jury found 36 year old Paris Bradford guilty Wednesday on charges of carrying a concealed weapon, possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of ammunition by a felon and three counts of felony firearm. He was found not guilty on a charge of receiving and concealing a stolen firearm.

On July 19, 2020, Cassopolis Police Officers and Cass County Sheriff's Deputies were investigating an altercation involving firearms in the area of Hospital Street in Jefferson Township. They found a vehicle parked on Hospital Street. Bradford was the driver, and was found to be sitting on a .38 caliber hand gun. Bradford at first admitted possessing the weapon, but later claimed that the armed persons he was sparring with inexplicably threw the loaded gun into his vehicle and left the scene.

After an hour and a half of deliberations, the jury returned with their decision. Bradford is scheduled to be sentenced July 16. He could face up to life in prison because he is considered a career criminal with at least five prior felony convictions and numerous misdemeanors.