Kyle K. Kessler Sentenced for Illegal Firearm in High-Speed Chase

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – In a dramatic turn of events, Kyle K. Kessler, 35, was sentenced to nine years without parole for illegal firearm possession following a harrowing high-speed chase through Kansas City traffic.

On Oct. 15, the defendant pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm, having admitted to carrying a Jimenez Arms 9mm semi-automatic pistol on Dec. 18, 2019.

The pursuit began when Kessler, driving a stolen Chevrolet 2500 pickup truck, ignored police attempts to stop him. The chase ended with Kessler crashing into multiple police vehicles and fleeing at speeds averaging 80 to 100 miles per hour. His reckless driving forced motorists to take evasive action, leading to chaos on the streets.

After a series of dramatic maneuvers that included weaves through traffic, two stoplight violations, and a school zone breach, Kessler’s truck collided with guardrails, leaving him trapped in his vehicle. Officers had to break the passenger window to extract Kessler from the wreckage, where they found the loaded pistol on his person.

U.S. District Judge Roseann Ketchmark handed down the sentence based on Kessler’s 11 prior felony convictions, including tampering with a motor vehicle and burglary of a motor vehicle.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, a Department of Justice initiative aimed at reducing violent crime by focusing on the most violent offenders and partnering with local prevention programs.

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