BILLINGS, MT – Christopher Samuel Fear, 38, of Billings, is headed to federal prison after admitting to illegally possessing a firearm while on the run from law enforcement. Fear was sentenced to two years and three months behind bars, followed by three years of supervised release, U.S. Attorney Jesse Laslovich announced Wednesday.
The case unfolded in the early hours of January 11, 2023, when a Montana Highway Patrol trooper spotted Fear speeding – clocking in at 85 mph in a 65-mph zone. When the trooper activated his emergency lights, Fear didn’t comply. Instead, he floored it, leading officers on a chase that ended with a crash into a fence within Billings city limits. Fear then attempted to evade capture by hiding under the front end of the vehicle.
It didn’t work. Officers quickly located Fear and discovered a pistol lying on the floorboard of the wrecked vehicle. Adding to his troubles, Fear was already on state probation for a prior drug conviction and had an outstanding warrant for a probation violation. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a far more extensive cache: 216 fentanyl pills, 20 grams of methamphetamine, drug packaging materials, and a loaded .357-caliber semi-automatic pistol.
Fear pleaded guilty in November 2023 to the charge of prohibited person in possession of a firearm. U.S. District Judge Susan P. Watters handed down the sentence. Assistant U.S. Attorney Lori Harper Suek led the prosecution, while the investigation was a joint effort by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Montana Highway Patrol, and the Eastern Montana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) Task Force.
Federal officials are framing the case as part of “Project Safe Neighborhoods,” a broad initiative aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence through increased collaboration between law enforcement and local communities. The program focuses on building trust, supporting community organizations, prioritizing strategic enforcement, and tracking results.
Fear’s sentence sends a clear message: possessing firearms while already a convicted felon – and attempting to flee from police while carrying a significant amount of narcotics – will carry serious consequences in Montana. The investigation highlights the continued flow of dangerous drugs and illegal weapons into the state, prompting ongoing efforts from federal and state agencies to stem the tide.
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