A Cassopolis man has been fined was fined nearly $700 and had his firearm forfeited after pleading guilty to attempted possession of a firearm by a felon.

The incident occurred last November on the first day of hunting season.

A DNR officer stopped William David Henry, Jr., 46, near his home and discovered he didn’t have a hunting license and, as a convicted felon, wasn’t allowed to possess a firearm.

Henry believed he could hunt with a muzzleloader, having done some research and asked officials about the law. But it turns out the law changed in 2015, prohibiting felons from using any firearms.

Leader Publications reports the judge acknowledged Henry’s confusion due to the recent change in the law ordered the fine and forfeit anyway. Morgan Hopkins, MNC News.