Johnny Kelly sentenced for gun crime

A Shreveport man convicted in August of illegal possession of a firearm was sentenced in Caddo District Court Wednesday, October 7, 2026.

Johnny Kelly, 29, must serve seven and a half years in prison, District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. ordered. The term must be served at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Kelly was convicted August 21, 2026.

On November 20, 2024, a Shreveport police officer patrolling near the Sunset Acres Park after it closed at 10 p.m. saw two vehicles in the parking lot. As he approached the vehicles, a male passenger in one of the vehicles stepped out of the vehicle and it could be observed there was a gun on the floor by his feet. Questioned about it, the man, Kelly, admitted it belonged to another person but that he was in possession of it. He was convicted of the felony illegal use of weapons in 2021, preventing him from legally possessing a firearm.

Kelly was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Chase Burgess and Stephen Folk-Cruthirds. He was defended by Keith Whiddon and Sean Fore. 

The case was docket No. 405287.

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