WICHITA – The Sheriff of Ness County pleaded guilty Monday to a federal firearm charge and agreed to resign, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said.

Sheriff Bryan Whipple, 48, Ness City, pleaded guilty to one count of knowingly selling a gun to a person who was prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm. In his plea, Whipple admitted he arranged to sell a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a man he knew was a convicted felon.

The plea agreement calls for Whipple to resign his position as sheriff and to surrender his law enforcement certification from the Kansas Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training. Both parties will recommend Whipple be sentenced to probation. Sentencing is set for Jan. 17.

Whipple was arrested on Dec. 21 of last year following an investigation by the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. He was arrested for perjury, making false information, criminal distribution of firearms to a felon, and official misconduct. The alleged crimes are suspected to have occurred over the past four years.

In April, the U.S. Attorney’s Office reported he was charged with three counts of wire fraud and one count of selling a firearm to a convicted felon.

The indictment accused Whipple of faxing reports to the Commission on Peace Officers’ Standards and Training (CPOST) falsely certifying that deputies had received training. The indictment also alleges he sold a .45 caliber pistol and ammunition to a man he knew was prohibited from possessing a firearm because of a prior felony conviction.

He first appeared in federal court in May.

As a result of his plea arrangement, the other charges against Whipple have been dropped.

McAllister commended the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and Assistant U.S. Attorney Debra Barnett for their work on the case.