The U.S. Department of Justice says the district attorney for Western Missouri has secured a guilty plea from a Pettis County man accused of shooting two sheriff’s deputies attempting to serve a search warrant.

62-year-old James Joseph Elsea pleaded guilty Tuesday, Jan. 13 in federal court to charges of possessing methamphetamine with intent to distribute, discharging a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and being a felon in possession of a firearm. In his plea agreement, Elsea admitted to firing shots from inside his home on Route BB near the Longwood community the morning of May 2, 2025, as deputies with the Pettis County Sheriff’s Office and members of the East Central Missouri Drug Task Force attempted to serve a no-knock search warrant on Elsea’s residence. Officers say after they arrested Elsea and entered the home, they found evidence that Elsea attempted to discard methamphetamine in the toilet, and also found firearms in the home despite Elsea’s prior felony convictions.

Elsea is subject to a sentence of at least ten years for discharging his firearm, which must be served consecutive to any sentences handed down for his other two guilty pleas. He’ll be sentenced at a later date.