A federal judge has sentenced an east Alabama man to over five years in prison for chasing his girlfriend down the street with a shotgun.
49-year-old Matthew Hal McCraney, of Ohatchee, was sentenced to 63 months – more than five years – in federal prison by U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor. McCraney pleaded guilty in August to being a felon in possession of a firearm.
The incident occurred on Sept. 15, 2022, when McCraney got into an argument with his girlfriend. According to court documents, McCraney grabbed a short-barreled shotgun and chased her down the street.
Anniston police officers responded to the scene and found McCraney hiding in some bushes. They also recovered the 12-gauge shotgun.
McCraney is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including felony battery and battery on a law officer or firefighter.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel S. McBrayer and Darius C. Greene prosecuted.
In addition to the prison sentence, McCraney was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release.
