Prison ordered for theft of gun from Kansas City homicide victim

A 40-year-old man was sentenced Friday to nine years and two months in prison for stealing a gun from a Kansas City homicide victim.

Alfred C. Crater Jr. was carrying a .40-caliber handgun when he was arrested by Kansas City police in February 2012 near Indiana Avenue and Linwood Boulevard.

Police later determined that the gun had been taken from 29-year-old Anthony Wayne Van Buren, who was the victim of a homicide in the 3300 block of College Avenue.

Crater, of Kansas City, pleaded guilty last year in U.S. District Court in Kansas City to possession of a stolen firearm.

Federal prosecutors said that Crater has numerous prior felony convictions and was on probation at the time he was caught with the weapon.