A Meriden man who served eight years in prison for manslaughter pleaded guilty today to possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following his arrest two years ago for home invasion in Middlefield.
Shane Leverette, 44, who previously went by the name Shane Baltas, admitted to a federal judge in New Haven that he stole a semi-automatic rifle after entering a home on Jackson Hill Road on Feb. 16, 2011, with the intention of stealing money and drugs.
Leverette and an accomplice, Randy Cochran, 32, of Plantsville, were dressed in black and wore baseball hats with the DEA logo and bandanas to cover their faces when they entered the home and threatened two adults inside at the time.
Cochran struck one of the victims with a handgun, causing the weapon to fire. He was sentenced last July to five years in prison for his role in the home invasion.
Leverette, who also previously served 12 years in prison for a firearms, racketeering and narcotics conviction in 1999, was on federal supervised release at the time of the home invasion.
He faces up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000 fine on the latest charges. He's scheduled to be sentenced in July.
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