Sikeston man with more than 12 felony convictions sentenced to more than 16 years in prison

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – A Sikeston man with more than a dozen criminal convictions who was caught with a firearm was sentenced to more than 16 years in prison.

U.S. District Judge Stephen R. Clark on Friday sentenced Milton Napoleon Porter, 41, to 200 months in prison.

Porter pleaded guilty in November to the offense of being a previously convicted felon in possession of a firearm and admitted knowing that he was prohibited from possessing a gun because of his status as a convicted felon.

Officers with the Sikeston Department of Public Safety were dispatched to a reported vehicle break-in on East Kathleen Street last July.  Porter was found at the scene. When he saw the officers, Porter jumped over a fence and ran away, according to court documents. During a foot chase, Porter tossed a loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol on the ground. He was arrested moments later.

A criminal background check revealed Porter had 13 felony convictions, including multiple convictions for domestic assault.

After serving his sentence, Porter will be placed on supervised release for five years.

The case was investigated by the Sikeston Department of Public Safety.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jack Koester handled the prosecution for the government.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods which is a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence and to make neighborhoods safer for everyone.