Redding Felon Detrant Jailed for Gun Possession

Redding’s Gabriel Joseph Detrant, 50, faced the music with a 41-month prison sentence for his latest gun possession offense. Today, United States Attorney Phillip A. Talbert declared the stiff penalty, which came after Detrant was caught with a loaded firearm in February of last year.

The Sacramento native’s trouble started on February 2, 2021, when Redding law enforcement pulled him over for a traffic stop. As fate would have it, Detrant and his passenger bolted from the scene on foot. But they didn’t get far; officers found a Baikal Makarov, Model IJ-70 9 mm handgun loaded with eight rounds near the driver’s seat where Detrant was last seen. Later, they tracked down Detrant himself, who was hiding nearby and in possession of a magazine packed with eight more 9mm rounds.

Detrant had already been flagged for multiple prior felony convictions, most notably a 2018 charge in Shasta County for being a felon in possession of a firearm. This latest incident puts the ex-con behind bars once again, where he’ll serve out his sentence before returning to the streets.

The case against Detrant was the result of an intensive investigation involving the Shasta County District Attorney’s Office, the Redding Police Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Assistant United States Attorney Haddy Abouzeid prosecuted the charge with determination.

This sentence comes under Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program aimed at reducing violent crime and gun violence across all levels of law enforcement. Launched by the U.S. Department of Justice in May 2021, PSN focuses on fostering community trust, supporting local organizations to prevent violence, setting strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring outcomes.

Detrant’s sentence sends a strong message about the consequences of illegal gun possession for felons. It also underscores the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to keep California neighborhoods safe.