A Caddo Parish man with a felony history that prevents him legally possessing a gun pleaded guilty to that crime Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
Leonard Ray Hunter III, 36, who had been set for trial January 13, as part of a pilot program to increase the number of jury trials for incarcerated defendants, opted to plead guilty to felon in possession of a firearm rather than place his fate before a jury.
On September 24, 2024, Shreveport police conducted a traffic stop of Hunter. During the stop, police found a Smith & Wesson handgun wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console. Hunter had been convicted of illegal use of a weapon in 2021 and as such is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
When Hunter returns to court to face District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. March 11, 2025, he faces a prison sentence of at least five and up to 20 years, to be served without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman prosecuted Hunter, who was defended by Carlos Prudhomme.
The case was docket No. 404251.
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