St. Paul Felon Pleads Guilty to Possessing a .22–Caliber Gun
MINNEAPOLIS — Earlier today in federal court, a St. Paul felon pleaded guilty to possessing a .22–caliber handgun while on the campus of Metropolitan State University. Demonte Johntrell Latimore, age 24, pleaded guilty to one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm. Latimore, who was indicted on April 3, 2012, entered his plea before United States District Court Judge Ann D. Montgomery.
In his plea agreement, Latimore admitted that on March 8, 2012, he was arrested on the campus of Metro State University, carrying a loaded .22–caliber, semi–automatic pistol.
Latimore’s criminal history includes numerous convictions in Ramsey County: burglary (2006, 2008 and 2009), fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle (2007), and theft of a motor vehicle (May of 2011). In addition, Latimore was convicted in Dakota County for theft of a motor vehicle (August of 2011). Because he is a felon, Latimore is prohibited under federal law from possessing a firearm at any time.
Since the past burglary felony convictions were for crimes of violence, sentencing in the current federal case will be subject to the Armed Career Criminal Act, which mandates a minimum of 15 years in federal prison if convicted. The maximum sentence on that charge is life in prison. Judge Montgomery will determine his sentence at a future hearing.
This case is the result of an investigation by the St. Paul Police Department and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. It is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Clifford B. Wardlaw.
Note, this case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN
), a comprehensive, strategic approach to reducing gun crime in America. PSN, launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in 2001, encourages cooperative, multi–jurisdictional law enforcement and crime prevention efforts.
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