A Sully man accused of attacking his wife Saturday, Dec. 28, is now facing a federal firearms charge in connection with the incident.
William Leroy Sanders, 40, was taken into custody Tuesday morning by agents of the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He was then transported to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Iowa, where he was arraigned on a charge of possessing firearms and ammunition after having previously been convicted of a felony.
ATF Special Agent Philip Pritchett stated in his affidavit in support of arrest that in reviewing Sanders' past criminal history, he discovered Sanders was a "multi-convicted felon from the State of Iowa for narcotics violations, as well as being convicted for assault on a police officer and domestic assault."
Pritchett stated Sanders' wife had called her son to say she was being held against her will and had been assaulted. Her son then called 911, notifying the Jasper County Communications Center what he had been told and that Sanders had firearms in the home, located in the 11000 block of S. 100th Ave. E. in rural Sully.
When a deputy arrived, Sanders' wife was seen standing in the front yard. When she approached the deputy, he observed "extensive" injuries to her face. She said Sanders had inflicted the injuries.
The deputy entered the home and found Sanders passed out on the floor with his pants around his ankles with an almost-empty bottle of Jack Daniels next to him. When he was placed into handcuffs, 12-gauge shotgun shells were found in Sanders' pants pocket.
As Sanders was being removed from the home, he asked for his coat, which had been lying next to him on the floor. When the coat was retrieved, 17 more shotgun shells were found inside the coat pockets.
While Sanders' wife was being transported to Pella Regional Health Center, she stated to the ambulance crew Sanders had hit her int he face with the butt of a shotgun, and that she thought she may have fractured ribs. She was later airlifted to Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
Sheriff John Halferty interviewed her two days later in her hospital room. During the interview, Sanders' wife explained he had fired a shotgun round at her while seh was sitting on the couch, and that he had also fired a crossbow at her.
"Sheriff Halferty explained to [me] the slug had been recovered and it appeared to have missed [Sanders' wife] by about 12 inches and that the crossbow appeared to have missed her by a smaller distance while she sat on the couch," Pritchett said. "[She] also told Sheriff Halferty that 'Billie' Sanders put a tactical shotgun in the car and forced her to drive to a gas station to buy cigarettes."
The affidavit states Halferty recovered a 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, which was loaded and in plain view in the room where the assault occurred. The loaded rounds were identical to those found in Sanders' pockets.
"Three other firearms were recovered from the residence to include an H&R 12-gauge pump shotgun, found loaded, a Marlin model 40 .22-caliber rifle, found loaded, and a Springfield XD 9 mm pistol, found loaded," Pritchett stated. None of the firearms and ammunition recovered are manufactured in Iowa.
"Based upon the facts, statements and information contained in this affidavit, [I believe] there is probable cause to believe William Leroy Sanders violated Title 18 U.S.C. Section 922(g)(1) — 'It shall be unlawful for any person who has been convicted in any court of a felony to receive or possess a firearm or ammunition'," Pritchett concluded.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Celeste F. Bremer ordered Sanders to be held on the charge. She also appointed an attorney and set a detention hearing for 11 a.m. Monday at the U.S. Federal Building in Des Moines. He hearing will be before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ross A. Walters.