Two Bradley County men sentenced in weapons cases

Two Bradley County men received prison sentences of eight and 20 years as a result of their prosecution in U.S. District Court for being in possession of firearms.

Mark W. Burris, 37,  received a sentence of 96 months in a federal prison that will be followed by 36 months of supervision after his release from custody. The charges stem from Burris’s arrest at a local motel while he was found to be in possession of a shotgun and ammunition.  An underage female who accompanied him to that location was also taken into custody Prosecution of Burris in federal court was based on prior felony convictions. Michael Mitchell Dodd, 50, was sentenced to 240 months in federal custody after he pleaded guilty to weapons and drug charges.  

The investigation that led to his arrest involved the drug units of the Cleveland Police Department and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office.  During the investigation Dodd was found in possession of crack cocaine. The case was prepared for federal prosecution by Sheriff’s Det. Carl Maskew and was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Perry Piper. Dodd’s prison sentence will be followed by 120 months of supervision by federal probation officers.