A former Austin mayoral and city council candidate has run into legal trouble once again.

Zeke Thaddeus Dahl, 36, faces two gross misdemeanor charges for allegedly handling a handgun during a firearms class at Riverland Community College even though he was convicted of felony check forgery in 2011.

In 2010, Dahl took about $8,000 from his grandmother using forged checks. His grandmother reportedly told police he had a “bad gambling habit” and admitted to taking the money before he went to gambling treatment.

He was sentenced to five years’ supervised probation and was ordered to pay $7,100 in restitution before his felony would be reduced to a misdemeanor. Since then, Dahl has twice violated his parole.

Dahl may have violated his parole once again after Mower County Sheriff’s deputies learned on May 8 that Dahl had registered for a basic firearms class at Riverland Community College and had allegedly possessed and shot a Glock .9mm handgun owned by the college during the course.

According to a court complaint, deputies found Dahl had allegedly marked on paperwork in February that he hadn’t been convicted of a felony since he turned 18. Furthermore, a detective who taught the class wasn’t aware Dahl was a convicted felon until he was notified by officials with the Mower County Correctional Service.

Police tried to speak to Dahl at the last Riverland class on May 12, but Dahl didn’t show up. Deputies got hold of Dahl on May 14, but Dahl allegedly told authorities he couldn’t meet with them as he was getting ready for work. Dahl said he might be able to meet with deputies on the next day.

Dahl’s grandmother allegedly told deputies on May 15 that Dahl was out of town and had checked himself into a gambling treatment program in Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Deputies also found pictures of Dahl allegedly handling a Glock handgun. The photos were taken by other students, according to the complaint.

Dahl’s next court hearing is on July 31. He faces an initial appearance for the firearm charges and a revocation hearing for his probation. As of July 22, Dahl had $2,297 left to pay off.

Dahl ran for mayor in 2010 only a few months after he moved to Austin. He came in last place with 103 votes. He ran for a Ward 1 city council seat in 2012 but dropped out of the race after he learned his felony conviction would prevent him from serving in office.