Stephen R. Wigginton, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, announced Wednesday that 39-year-old Tara Michelle Kern of Villa Ridge was sentenced to 6 months in prison, followed by 6 months of house arrest. She was also placed on two years supervised release and fined $400.

Kern had previously plead guilty to a four-count indictment, three of which charged her with aiding and abetting her husband, William A. Kern, in the possession of firearms, in spite of the fact that he is a convicted felon. The fourth charge was for concealing the guns to hinder ATF agents in their investigation.

William Kern was previously sentenced to 42 months imprisonment on federal gun charges. Tara Kern is a former Pulaski County Sheriff's Deputy.