MADISON, Wis. (WFRV) - A 26-year-old Wisconsin man has been sentenced to more than five years in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a convicted felon. Damon Clark of Eau Claire was sentenced on Tuesday by United States District Judge William Conley to five-and-a-half years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. The sentencing came after Clark pleaded guilty to the felony charge on August 20. Stolen vehicle damages property on Wisconsin pedestrian trail, later ditched & abandoned The incident occurred on January 1, 2024, when Eau Claire Police officers responded to reports of a fight at a bar where a firearm had been pointed at an individual. Witnesses and video footage identified Clark as the person involved. Upon police arrival, Clark fled to a nearby parking lot, where officers subsequently arrested him and recovered a loaded Glock 19 with a 31-round magazine hidden under a vehicle. The firearm was equipped with a machinegun conversion device, an illegal attachment that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon capable of firing around 50 rounds in just four seconds. Testing by the Wisconsin State Crime Lab confirmed Clark's DNA on the weapon. Clark was legally prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition due to previous felony convictions. 64-year-old Wisconsin woman dies after vehicle submerges in 15 feet of water During sentencing, Judge Conley described Clark's actions as "disastrous," highlighting the grave danger posed by brandishing a loaded machinegun with an extended magazine outside a crowded bar. While emphasizing the severity of the offense, Judge Conley also noted Clark's lack of prior prison experience and expressed hope that this sentencing could mark a turning point in his life.