Patrick Williams to serve 10 years

A Shreveport man found guilty last month of criminally possessing a firearm must spend the next decade in prison, a Caddo Parish judge ruled Tuesday, June 9, 2026.

District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr. sentenced Patrick Williams II, 40, to 10 years at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, for illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He had been convicted May 15 in Judge Hathaway's court.

On May 3, 2025, a Shreveport police officer made a traffic stop on a Hyundai Elantra for following too closely to another vehicle and failing to use a turn signal. During the traffic stop, the officer noticed the odor of marijuana and alcohol coming from the car. During a standard search of the vehicle while looking for narcotics, the officer found a Ruger 9mm pistol within arm’s reach of the center console under the media player. Williams, the driver, admitted after he was detained by officers that he had had the firearm for 15 years. Williams has prior convictions of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance as well as a prior felon in possession of a firearm charge, both of which prohibit him from possessing a firearm.

Williams was prosecuted by Chase Burgess and Jason Waltman, He was represented by the Caddo Parish Indigent Defender's office.

The case was docket No. 408452.

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