TEXARKANA -- A former Arkansas Highway Police officer pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to illegally possessing firearms.

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John William Vickers, 55, of Prescott was accused of threatening members of law enforcement and President Barack Obama in postings on Facebook. The social-media posts led to his Oct. 26 arrest on terroristic threatening charges in Hempstead County.

After an investigation, Vickers was indicted in December by a federal grand jury in the Texarkana Division of the Western District of Arkansas on a charge of possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

With the help of Texarkana lawyer Craig Henry, Vickers pleaded guilty to the firearm charge during a hearing before U.S. District Judge Susan Hickey.

Federal authorities filed the weapon charge against Vickers after an April 2015 protective order issued in Ouachita County, which found that Vickers had threatened an "intimate partner," court records show.

Arkansas State Police special agents, who executed a search warrant at Vickers' home Oct. 26 after the social-media posts, seized a Smith & Wesson pistol, a 12-gauge shotgun, ammunition for both firearms, and a small amount of marijuana, a federal complaint states.

When asked by Hickey at Friday's hearing if he believed the government could prove the case against him, Vickers replied, "I believe they could prove the guns were there, yes."

Vickers will be scheduled for sentencing after the completion of a presentencing investigation, which will include a recommendation for punishment under federal guidelines. Vickers faces a fine of up to $250,000 and up to 10 years in federal prison.

He remains in the custody of U.S. marshals.

Metro on 01/24/2016