An Albert Lea man who was in possession of a stolen gun in February was placed on probation for up to 20 years Wednesday in Freeborn County District Court.

Montique Rinaldo Bickham Jr., 22, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in August to receiving stolen property and fifth-degree drug possession. He was given a stayed sentence of more than two years in prison and received 260 days in jail, all of which he was given credit for serving.

Court documents state Bickham was charged after Albert Lea officers were dispatched Feb. 6 to a report of a runaway juvenile and reports that Bickham was with the juvenile.

Bickham was found driving a vehicle with a suspended license, and a loaded handgun that had been reported stolen was found next to the driver’s seat.

Court documents state photographs on Bickham’s phone showed stolen guns from the same residence.

A search of Bickham’s pockets revealed a vial with methamphetamine inside.

Bickham was charged with possessing ammunition or a firearm with a previous felony conviction and carrying or possessing a pistol without a permit in a public place, but those charges were dismissed. 

In a separate file, Bickham was charged with felony theft after reportedly stealing a 2017 GMC Sierra in April from an Albert Lea address. That case was dismissed at sentencing.