Grenade, chase case ends in prison term
A Texarkana man arrested with a cache of firearms after selling a “dead man’s” grenade to a confidential source and leading police on a high-speed chase was sentenced Tuesday to more than 12 years in federal prison.
Skip Earnest Ralph Lomax, 33, appeared before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey with Federal Public Defender Bruce Eddy for sentencing Tuesday afternoon in Texarkana’s downtown federal building. Lomax pleaded guilty to three of six counts listed in a federal indictment charging him with drugs and weapons offenses at a hearing in July 2016.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ben Wulff and Eddy disagreed as to whether an enhancement to Lomax’s punishment for trafficking weapons was warranted. Eddy argued that the law requires a defendant knew or had reason to believe the sale was unlawful. Wulff pointed out that the person to whom Lomax sold the grenade was a convicted felon and that the grenade was not registered as required under federal law.
“This was in the middle of a field next to a chemical plant,” Wulff said. “Nobody in their right mind would consider this transaction lawful.” Hickey agreed after hearing testimony from FBI Special Agent Micah Sexton who testified that Lomax agreed to sell the grenade, which had been altered to detonate the second the pin is pulled, and a machine gun for $1,000.
Hickey sentenced Lomax to 151 months for methamphetamine trafficking and ordered maximum 10-year terms for possession of firearms by a felon and possession of a destructive device. All three sentences will run concurrently.
Shortly before his arrest March 24, 2016, Lomax led members of law enforcement from multiple agencies on a brief chase. Lomax accelerated to speeds of up to 80 miles per hour as he weaved through traffic but lost control of his truck near a church on Arkansas Boulevard. Because of concern that explosives might endanger the public, about 30 people were evacuated from the church.
Inside Lomax’s wrecked red pickup, officers discovered a Ruger .380-caliber pistol, a Colt Police Positive .32-caliber revolver, a Ruger .38 special revolver, a .38 special revolver of unidentified origin, a Taurus Millenium G2 .40-caliber pistol and a revolver with its serial number removed.
Upon release from federal prison, Lomax will be supervised by federal probation for three years. During that time he can be returned to prison if he commits a new offense or fails to comply with the conditions of his supervised release.
Hickey told Lomax she is recommending intensive drug treatment and mental health services available within the Bureau of Prisons.
Charges of possession of Ephedrine with the purpose of manufacturing methamphetamine and fleeing in a vehicle are still pending against Lomax in state court in Miller County. He is scheduled to appear before Circuit Judge Carlton Jones on those charges Oct. 3.
llarowe@texarkanagazette.com