In wake of Hesston, Kan., rampage, woman admits providing guns to felon
A Newton, Kan., woman faces up to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to providing guns to a convicted felon accused of shooting 17 people at a lawn-care equipment factory in Hesston, Kan.
Sarah T. Hopkins, 28, pleaded guilty Thursday to failing to report to authorities that convicted felon Cedric Ford unlawfully possessed a firearm.
Ford shot three people to death and injured 14 in February at Excel Industries in Hesston. Ford was killed in a shootout with police.
Hopkins admitted that she redeemed an AK-47 rifle from a pawn shop in Newton about 20 days before the Feb. 25 attack and gave it to Ford.
Investigators later recovered the rifle and a handgun at Excel Industries after the shootout.
Hopkins will be sentenced Nov. 28. She faces up to three years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000.
Toriano Porter: 816-234-4779, @torianoporter
This story was originally published September 8, 2016 at 6:53 PM with the headline "In wake of Hesston, Kan., rampage, woman admits providing guns to felon."