What Sentences Are Imposed for Felon in Possession of a Firearm in Los Angeles?
Three independent completed Los Angeles felon-in-possession prosecutions reviewed here produced different outcomes: 16 months in state prison, two years in state prison, and a three-year term with execution suspended and two years of formal probation. Because one case included a gang allegation and another used a suspended sentence, these examples should not be flattened into a simple prison range.
Quick Answer
- Independent completed cases: 3
- Locations: South Los Angeles and Van Nuys
- Conviction: Penal Code §29800(a)(1)
- Outcome types: executed prison terms and suspended prison term with probation
- Scope: selected official public reports, not a citywide distribution
See the Los Angeles hub, compare assault with a deadly weapon, and review our methodology and editorial standards.
What Is Felon in Possession of a Firearm?
California Penal Code §29800(a)(1) makes it a felony for a person with a qualifying felony or other listed conviction, or a person addicted to a narcotic drug, to own, purchase, receive, possess, or have custody or control of a firearm. The prosecution must prove the prohibited status and knowing possession or control; the page does not treat every firearm arrest as this offense.
Statutory Sentence
Section 29800 identifies the offense as a felony. When an underlying felony is punishable under Penal Code §1170(h) without a separately stated term, §1170(h)(1) supplies a 16-month, two-year, or three-year triad. Section 1170(h) also addresses when the term is served in county jail, when specified records require state prison, mandatory supervision, and the availability of other lawful dispositions. Enhancements and prior convictions may change the result. This statutory triad is distinct from the reported case outcomes.
Observed Completed Outcomes
| Case | Los Angeles conduct | Disposition | Final outcome | Comparison note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donta Taylor | Firearm possession near Van Ness Avenue and 57th Street | No-contest plea to felon in possession | 16 months in state prison, served in Los Angeles County Jail | Target offense expressly identified |
| Antonio Solis | Loaded firearm at a Sherman Way motel in Van Nuys | No-contest plea to §29800(a)(1) and admission of a gang allegation | 2 years in state prison | Gang allegation means the total is not a clean base-only comparison |
| Norvell C. | Loaded firearm in a vehicle near South Broadway and 108th Street | No-contest plea in the target case; related later case dismissed | 3 years imposed, execution suspended, with 2 years of formal probation | Suspended term is not equivalent to an executed prison term |
Case Details
Donta Taylor: The District Attorney’s officer-involved-shooting review records a prior Los Angeles incident in which Taylor discarded a handgun, later pleaded no contest to being a felon in possession, and received sixteen months in state prison. Official source.
Antonio Solis: The official review identifies a Van Nuys motel incident, a §29800(a)(1) count, an admitted gang allegation, and a final two-year state-prison sentence. Official source.
Norvell C.: The official review reports a South Broadway firearm case, a no-contest plea, and a three-year state-prison sentence whose execution was suspended on condition of two years of formal probation. A different pending firearm case was dismissed and is not counted as another prosecution. Official source.
Why Outcomes Differ
Prior-record rules can determine whether a term is served in state prison or county jail. Gang allegations, plea terms, probation eligibility, concurrent cases, custody credit, and suspended execution also matter. A suspended three-year term with probation is legally and practically different from serving three years in custody.
Methodology and Limitations
We used official Los Angeles County District Attorney memoranda because they state the underlying convictions and final outcomes. We required conduct within the City of Los Angeles and treated later dismissed charges as excluded. These memoranda primarily review police uses of force, so they are not a systematic sentencing dataset; the three prosecutions are a selected sample.
Sources
Disclaimer
General information only, not legal advice.