Rochester Man Headed Back to Prison

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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A Rochester man with a lengthy criminal history is headed back to prison.

31-year-old Richard Eaton was sentenced Thursday to five years in prison for illegal possession of ammunition and/or firearms. In this case, the conviction stemmed from a search warrant performed last July at his residence along Marion Road SE that led to the discovery of 111 shotgun shells in his bedroom. Eaton entered a guilty plea to the charge in February through a plea agreement that resulted in the dismissal of four other criminal complaints involving domestic violence, drug crimes, and another allegation involving illegal possession of a firearm or ammunition.

Because of his criminal history, Eaton is barred from possessing any firearms or ammunition. His criminal record includes a number of felony domestic violence-related convictions dating back to a 2010 conviction on a stalking charge. His most recent prison sentence was for 26 months and stemmed from domestic assault and felony drug convictions in 2018.

Eaton was also arrested last October following a violent domestic incident in Rochester. In that case, Eaton is accused of punching and abducting a 37-year-old woman. Rochester police reported the alleged victim had knocked on the door of a residence and told the occupants a man was after her. Moments later, Eaton allegedly drove onto the home's lawn, grabbed the woman, and punched her several times before forcing her into the vehicle.