An Omaha man was sentenced Wednesday to 16 months in federal prison for speeding past security at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue and driving around the base with a gun in his vehicle in 2022.
Jason Shadden, 42, admitted in a plea agreement to smoking marijuana before driving past the security gates at the base and driving recklessly through multiple areas, surrendering only after he was approached by security officers with their guns drawn.
Shadden pleaded guilty to being an unlawful user of a controlled substance, namely marijuana, in possession of a firearm. Since marijuana is a controlled substance under federal law, it is a federal crime for anyone who uses marijuana to possess a firearm.
According to the plea agreement, Shadden drove to an entry gate at the base on Nov. 19, 2022, in a silver pickup truck. He approached with both of his hands sticking out the window before speeding past the security gate.
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Once on the base, Shadden “drove in circles in a parking lot and continued to drive recklessly at high speed to other locations,†according to the plea agreement. When he made it to a fueling location, he was diverted onto the grass by U.S. Air Force Security Forces officers who approached his vehicle with their guns drawn. Shadden then exited his truck and surrendered.
A search of Shadden’s vehicle located a Ruger handgun between the door and passenger seat, as well as a marijuana pipe and a THC vape pen.
During an interview with the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office, Shadden said he smoked marijuana about six or seven hours before driving to the base. His motive for doing so is not made clear in court documents, though a sentencing memorandum filed earlier this month made reference to “mental health problems.â€
Shadden faced a maximum of 15 years in prison with no mandatory minimum. He was ordered to begin serving his 16-month sentence in September.