Former deputy pleads guilty to federal gun charge

ATLANTA (AP)- A former Newton County sheriff's deputy has pleaded guilty to a federal firearms charge.

The U.S. attorney's office in Atlanta says Darrell Mathis pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

Prosecutors say Mathis, who lives in Lithonia, sold marijuana to a confidential law enforcement source and to an undercover agent on multiple occasions between May and September.

Prosecutors say that on at least two occasions the 41-year-old sold the drug from his marked patrol vehicle while wearing his sheriff's office uniform and at least once brought a gun to a drug sale.

Mathis was arrested Sept. 19 when authorities say he had a pound of marijuana in his possession when he met with the undercover FBI agent.

Mathis is set to be sentenced March 5.