Ex-Army Sergeant Pleas Out to Multiple Arms, Drug Charges

BARSTOW – An active-duty Army sergeant pleaded guilty this week to four charges on three separate guns and drug-related cases in which he targeted area law enforcement agencies. Lucas Donahue, 32, was sentenced to two years in prison – sentences to run concurrently – for each charge. On Wednesday, the case concluded in Superior Court after he pleaded guilty to four charges in court on Monday.

Donahue was arrested last summer when military police discovered an armory in Donahue’s truck, according to investigators. He was believed to be carrying a semi-automatic handgun with a laser-site attachment, a black revolver and the barrel of an AK-47 assault rifle.

Donahue was a Sergeant stationed at Fort Irwin when he was arrested

Barstow detectives also learned from military police that Donahue reportedly threatened to kill his commanding officer. When his Barstow apartment was searched last summer, police discovered other multiple firearms and combat-related items.

One of the charges he pleaded guilty to included a special allegation with a separate charge for possession of a controlled substance, which was for sale, and with a loaded firearm that included a silencer for the revolvers. That sentence will run consecutive to the other cases, according to a release. Donahue received credit for time served, 408 days, that will be knocked off his sentence.

During their investigation, Fort Irwin military police discovered a map of Barstow in Donahue’s truck. It was marked with symbols used in army combat missions, which they believed to be “kill zones” referencing law enforcement agencies, including the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Dept., California Highway Patrol and Barstow Police headquarters. The kill zones, said the reports, were marked with three small red circles with the letter K in the middle.

Reports are that Donahue was on active duty until at least September 2012.

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