Department of Justice
U.S. Attorney's Office
District of Kansas
For Immediate Release
Monday, May 20, 2019
Reno County Man Pleads to Gun Charge After 100 MPH Chase
WICHITA, KAN. – A Reno County man who led troopers on a 100-mph chase pleaded guilty Monday to a federal firearm charge, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. Codey Elsasser, 26, Arlington, Kan., pleaded guilty to possessing a short-barreled rifle that was not registered as required by federal law. Elsasser was driving 88 mph in a 65 mph zone when a Kansas Highway Patrol trooper tried to stop him. Elsasser fled, reaching a speed of 100 mph as he drove from Barton County to Rice County before stopping.
In the car, troopers found a .223 caliber rifle with a barrel length of 10 and 5/8 inches, a 9 mm pistol, a 12 gauge shotgun, a bulletproof vest and parts of a homemade silencer. Elsasser was a convicted felon and was prohibited from having firearms. He admitted he smoked methamphetamine the morning of the arrest.
Sentencing is set for July 29. The parties have agreed to recommend a sentence in a range of 63 to 78 months in federal prison.
McAllister commended the Kansas Highway Patrol, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney David Lind for their work on the case.
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