BILLINGS – A gritty scene unfolded in federal court as Joshua David Heafner, 40, of Billings, received a tough sentence for his illegal possession of a firearm. Heafner was handed down a 72-month prison term followed by 3 years of supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme.
The saga began on March 14, 2023, when the Billings Police Department responded to a hit and run at North 31st Street and 6th Avenue North. Inside an abandoned Volkswagen Passat, officers found more than just a vehicle; they discovered a black pistol, ammunition, and evidence linking Heafner to the scene.
Heafner, who was wanted on outstanding warrants, fled the scene but was eventually apprehended near his residence. His fingerprints were found in multiple locations within the car, as well as on a cell phone left on the front driver’s side floorboard.
Judge Susan P. Watters presided over Heafner’s sentencing, which followed a federal jury conviction in March 2025 for possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. Heafner had previously been convicted of assault on a peace officer, robbery, and assault with a weapon, all felonies committed in Billings in September 2013.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jacob Yerger and Julie Patten, with the ATF and the Billings Police Department leading the investigation. This sentence is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a comprehensive program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across communities.
Project Safe Neighborhoods, launched on May 26, 2021, strengthens efforts through community engagement, supporting organizations that prevent violence, strategic enforcement, and measuring results. For more information about PSN, visit here.
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Key Facts
- State: Montana
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Violent Crime|Weapons
- Source: Official Source ↗
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