Just before his jury trial was to have begun Monday, March 6, 2023, Richard Cannon Jr. pleaded guilty to four gun and drug charges before District Judge Erin Leigh Waddell Garrett.
Cannon, 34 and from Shreveport, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm by a person convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance and possession with intent to distribute the Schedule II controlled dangerous substance methamphetamine.
On April 8th, 2022, officers with the Louisiana Department of Probation and Parole executed a probation warrant on Richard Cannon at his residence in Shreveport. Cannon absconded from supervision while on probation for a possession with intent to distribute a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance conviction.
Arrested for probation violations, Cannon was handcuffed and a search of his residence commenced. Probation officers found a baseball-sized baggie of suspected marijuana in plain view in Cannon’s bedroom, as well as a .40 caliber magazine loaded with 15 rounds and a 50-round .40 caliber drum magazine on the night stand. Inside the night stand, officers found a glass jar that contained two baggies of tan-colored powder, as well as 28 loose rounds of .40 caliber ammunition.
In the search of the bedroom, officers found a loaded Glock .40 caliber handgun on a bedside table, along with Cannon’s wallet and driver’s license. Officers also found a baggie containing a grayish colored powder, which field-tested positive for methamphetamine.
At the foot of the bed, officers found a loaded SCCY Model CPX-2 9mm handgun, later found to have been stolen, along with digital scales.
Officers located keys to a Ford Expedition and Dodge Nitro vehicles, both registered to Cannon. Officers located a baggie of suspected ecstasy tablets inside of the Expedition, as well as a second digital scale in the Dodge Nitro.
When Cannon returns to Judge Garrett’s court March 27th, 2023, he faces one to 10 years imprisonment, without or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $50,000 for possession with intent to distribute marijuana. He faces imprisonment of five to 20 years at hard labor, without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence and a fine of from $1,000 to $5,000 for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and also for pleading guilty to possession of a firearm by a person convicted of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance. And he faces imprisonment of from one to 10 years, with or without hard labor, and a fine of up to $50,000 for possession with intent to distribute the Schedule II controlled dangerous substance methamphetamine..
Cannon was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Ross Owen. He was defended by Sean Landry.