CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – During a full day of Clarion County Sentencing Court on Wednesday, most people appearing before President Judge James Arner pled guilty to charges and accepted pleas offered by District Attorney Mark Aaron.

Only one person asked to have a trial by jury instead of accepting a plea deal of probation.

Thomas James Norman, 58, of Emlenton, faces a maximum sentence of up to seven years if convicted of a Materially False Written Statement (Felony 3) and Unsworn Falsification to Authorities (Misdemeanor 2).  If he accepted the plea deal, he would have only faced probation.

According to a criminal complaint, around 3:27 p.m. on December 20, 2016, Norman attempted to obtain a Marlin, Model 5, .22LR Rifle, at Walmart in Monroe Township, Clarion County. The charges were filed after Norman failed to report five previous DUI convictions while filling out required paperwork. Because of those convictions, Norman is prohibited from obtaining a firearm.

The firearm registration system later flagged Norman’s paperwork and the Pennsylvania State Police Organized Crime Task Force filed charges against him on February 14, 2018.

Following the plea offered by Aaron, Norman indicated he wasn’t sure he wanted to accept it.

It should be noted that there is no guarantee that a judge will accept a plea agreement proposal, and the sentence is determined following a pre-sentence review by Clarion County Probation.

Public Defender Erich Spessard requested a five-minute recess to talk with his client. A short time later, Spessard informed the court that Norman was requesting a trial.

“It was an honest mistake,” offered Norman.

A court date will be determined at a later time.