Caddo Parish, La — A man with a felony record barring him from legally possessing a firearm pleaded guilty on Tuesday, January 7, 2025.
Leonard Ray Hunter III, 36, admitted to being a felon in possession of a firearm, foregoing a jury trial originally scheduled for January 13, 2025 as part of a pilot program aimed at expediting cases for incarcerated defendants.
The charges stem from a September 24, 2024, traffic stop by Shreveport police. During the stop, officers discovered a Smith & Wesson handgun wedged between the driver’s seat and the center console of Hunter’s vehicle. Hunter, who was convicted of illegal use of a weapon in 2021, is prohibited by law from owning or possessing firearms.
Hunter is set to appear before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. on March 11, 2025, for sentencing. He faces a mandatory prison term of 5 to 20 years, to be served without the possibility of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence.
Assistant District Attorney Christopher Bowman prosecuted the case, while Hunter was represented by defense attorney Carlos Prudhomme.
The case was filed under docket number 404251.
