GILMER, Texas — A Gladewater man has been sentenced to 99 years in prison after officers seized guns and drugs from a shop building while he was on parole in February.
Jimmy Wayne Skinner, 50, was arrested in February following a year-long investigation after law enforcement executed a narcotics search warrant of a residential compound in Gilmer. Deputies found Skinner, who was on parole at the time, inside of a shop building alongside methamphetamine, marijuana, cutting agents, loaded syringes and multiple guns, according to the Upshur County District Attorney's Office. Deputies also found a loaded 20 gauge short barrel shotgun that had been sawed off.
On Wednesday afternoon, jurors convicted and sentenced Skinner to 99 years in prison.
Skinner was tried for possession of a firearm by a felon and classified as a habitual offender. He had previously been to prison four separate times, and was on parole for a 25-year sentence for driving while intoxicated in June of 2012. Skinner made parole in February of 2000, but was labeled an absconder and had an active warrant for his arrest for over two years.
Six other people were found at the same location Skinner was arrested and are currently awaiting trial.