Independence Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Illegal Firearm after Shooting at Mother, Children

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that an Independence, Mo., man was sentenced in federal court today for illegally possessing a firearm after he fired at a woman and her children.

Senecca T. Spencer, 41, of Independence, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Beth Phillips to 10 years in federal prison without parole. Today’s sentence is the maximum penalty provided under the statute.

On Feb. 2, 2017, Spencer pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm. Spencer admitted he was in possession of a Jimenez Arms 9mm pistol and ammunition on May 25, 2016.

Independence police officers were called to an Independence residence on a report of a domestic violence disturbance on May 25, 2016. Spencer had pointed and discharged the firearm in the direction of a woman and her two minor children.

Spencer had already left by the time officers arrived at the residence, but he was located later that same evening and stopped in his vehicle near the intersection of 43rd Street and Phelps. As he was being placed under arrest, a police officer found a 9mm cartridge in Spencer’s front left pocket. The loaded 9mm pistol was discovered in the center console area of the vehicle.

Spencer also admitted that he made threatening telephone calls to the victim while he was incarcerated in federal custody. During these telephone calls, Spencer threatened her with violence, harm and death. Spencer also admitted he contacted the victim’s daughter by telephone. Spencer’s telephone calls were intended to coerce, intimidate, and compel her to become an uncooperative witness/victim in hopes of minimizing his potential prison sentence.

Under federal law, it is illegal for anyone who has been convicted of a felony to be in possession of any firearm or ammunition. Spencer has four prior felony conviction for assault with a dangerous weapon and seven prior felony convictions for assault and battery, and prior felony convictions for assault and battery on a police officer, armed robbery and possession with intent to distribute/manufacture a controlled substance.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Bradley K. Kavanaugh. It was investigated by the Independence, Mo., Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.