NLR man gets 17½ years on gun charge

A Pulaski County man with a history of violent criminal offenses was sentenced to 17½ years in federal prison Tuesday for illegally possessing a firearm.

Montrel Hammond, 31, of North Little Rock, pleaded guilty last October to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm before U.S. District Judge James M. Moody Jr.

On Oct. 27, 2022, Little Rock police stopped a 2008 black Hyundai Santa Fe that matched the description of a vehicle suspected in the breaking and entering of several other vehicles in the area. The driver, Hammond, was taken into custody and admitted to police to breaking into a 2021 Toyota Rav4 and stealing several credit cards. A search of his vehicle turned up the stolen credit cards as well as a 9mm pistol, which was found under the driver’s seat.

Hammond, who has prior convictions for being a felon in possession of a firearm, domestic battery, possession of a controlled substance, and residential burglary, was indicted on July 5, 2023. Under U.S. sentencing statutes, he faced a potential maximum sentence of life in prison and a minimum of 15 years.

According to the U.S. attorney’s office in Little Rock, Hammond’s sentence was based on the offense as well as a documented violent criminal history involving women and children.

Moody also ordered Hammond to serve three years on supervised release after he leaves prison, in addition to the 210-month prison term.

Under federal law, there is no parole in the federal prison system and Hammond will have to serve a minimum of 15 years in prison before he can qualify for early release for good behavior.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Katie Hinojosa. Hammond was represented by defense attorney Mark Alan Jesse of Little Rock. The investigation was conducted by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives with assistance of the Little Rock Police Department.