Charles Harmon Porter, 54, of Savannah, Georgia, has been sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after admitting to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. The announcement was made by Margaret E. Heap, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.
Court records show that on May 29, 2023, Porter shot his female roommate during a domestic dispute at their Alma Street residence in Savannah. Porter, who has previous felony convictions for terroristic threats, cocaine possession, and obstruction of law enforcement, fled the scene and discarded the handgun used in the shooting at an unknown location.
Savannah Police officers responded quickly to the incident and identified Porter as the suspect. He was arrested within hours at another location in Savannah. During booking at Chatham County jail, authorities found a single round of ammunition in Porter's pocket. An examination by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) revealed that the round had been manufactured outside Georgia, making Porter's possession a federal offense.
Porter pleaded guilty earlier this year to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon. At his sentencing hearing on September 4, prosecutors presented evidence linking him to the shooting; the court determined this amounted to attempted murder.
“The sentencing of Charles Harmon Porter reaffirms that this office will vigorously prosecute violent criminals who illegally possess firearms or ammunition down to the very last bullet as part of our commitment to public safety. We wish the victim the best in her continued recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Heap.
"Every bullet represents a potential threat to public safety; we will continue to work diligently to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands," said Acting ASAC Robert Davis.
The investigation was conducted by ATF and Savannah Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Timothy P. Dean prosecuted the case for the United States.
Porter still faces an aggravated assault charge related to this incident in Chatham County Superior Court.