An Albert Lea man who illegally possessed a loaded .22 revolver in April 2016 was placed on probation for up to 15 years on Tuesday in Freeborn County District Court.

Sam Irvin Thompson, 20, was given a stayed five-year prison sentence and received credit for 279 days served. He was sentenced after pleading guilty in February to being an ineligible person in possession of a firearm.

Judge Ross Leuning ordered Thompson follow all state and federal laws; not to possess firearms, ammunition or explosives, with the exception of recreation bowhunting; have no controlled substance or alcohol use, with the exception of prescribed medications; and follow other requirements.

In issuing the sentence, Leuning cited Thompson’s young age as a reason for the probationary sentence and warned him that violating probation could result in a prison sentence.

Directly addressing Thompson, Leuning called on him to follow his probation conditions and come through for his support structure.

“Don’t disappoint them,” Leuning said. “Don’t disappoint yourself.”

Court documents state Thompson was charged after officers found a number of items in Thompson’s vehicle during a search on April 29, 2016, including four rounds of .22 ammunition, a loaded .22 revolver, a meth pipe and baggies of meth totaling about 8.9 grams.

Thompson was charged with third-degree controlled substance possession and switched plates in that case and fleeing a peace officer in a motor vehicle in a separate case after he led officers on a high-speed chase that reached speeds of more than 100 mph in October 2016, but those charges were dismissed.