A first court appearance was scheduled Thursday for a veteran St Joseph police detective facing federal indictment.

Detective Scott Coates, a 20-year veteran at SJPD, is charged with aiding and abetting possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.

According to the indictment filed Tuesday, Detective Scott Coates interviewed Corey Barr in connection with a gang-related shooting in 2007.

The grand jury says Barr brought the handgun with him to the interview, and let Coates photograph it.

Officials say Coates then allowed Barr to leave with the gun.  That, despite the fact that another officer had informed Coates that Barr was not allowed to possess a firearm because of a domestic violence conviction.

That gun was later retrieved by Coates, and was booked into evidence 20 months later, according to the indictment.

It was later returned to Barr, who subsequently pleaded guilty to illegally possessing the weapon.

St Joseph Police Chief Chris Connally refused to comment on the ongoing, federal investigation. Connally says Coates has been placed on unpaid, non-duty status.

Read the entire indictment here.