A Boise man who burglarized the home of a man serving a military tour in Iraq has been sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.

Anthony Alex Howard, 23, routinely burglarized homes and sold stolen guns on the street, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He had in his car a gun stolen from the military officer's home when Boise police officers approached him on April 15, 2011, after a concerned citizen reported Howard suspiciously approached a home with what appeared to be a firearm tucked in his waistband.

Howard also had marijuana with him when police contacted him. He told police he knew the man who owned the gun and was only borrowing it because he needed to be protected from the "dangerous people" who sell him marijuana, according to court documents.

Howard pleaded guilty in July to unlawfully possessing a firearm. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge sentenced him Tuesday to 30 months in prison followed by three years of probation.