A Mishawka man has been sentenced to 63 months in prison for being a felon in possession of a firearm.

It was in April of 2018 when Pokagon tribal police found Michael L. Binder, 38, and a female companion in a minivan parked in the parking lot of the Four Winds-South Bend casino. Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, according to court documents.

Upon further investigation, officers located a small amount of marijuana and three baggies of methamphetamine, totaling approximately 10 grams, and a digital scale with white residue.

Pokagon police also found a loaded gun, pushed up under the driver’s seat from the back, near Binder’s feet.

A fingerprint matching Binder’s was found on the magazine of the gun.

Binder admitted to possessing this handgun during the guilty plea phase of this case.

The handgun’s serial number had been scratched out; however police were able to obtain the serial number and traced the weapon to determine that it had been stolen in 2016 from an individual who lawfully owned it in Michigan.