Savannah Felon Kearse Gets 10 Years for Illegal Gun Possession

Matthew Kearse, 30, of Savannah, is headed back behind bars for 10 years after being caught with a loaded pistol just four months after his release from prison. A federal jury found Kearse guilty of Possession of a Firearm and Ammunition by a Convicted Felon, a charge that carried a mandatory prison sentence under federal law. The trial in August lasted only a day, and the jury returned its guilty verdict in just 15 minutes, signaling no doubt about his criminal conduct.

Kearse’s arrest stemmed from an incident in November 2018 when his aunt confronted him about a pistol discovered in her backyard. Surveillance footage from her home showed Kearse in the area where the weapon was found. The Savannah Police Department, working with agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), seized the firearm and subjected it to forensic testing. DNA evidence confirmed Kearse had handled and possessed the weapon, sealing his fate in court.

U.S. District Judge William T. Moore Jr. handed down the 120-month prison sentence and added three years of supervised release following Kearse’s incarceration. There is no parole in the federal system, meaning Kearse will serve every month of his sentence. Acting U.S. Attorney David H. Estes made it clear: “Matthew Kearse knew, as a previously convicted felon, that he was prohibited from carrying a gun, but he did so anyway.”

Kearse was on parole at the time of the offense, having just finished a prior prison term. His swift return to federal custody underscores a troubling pattern. “Mr. Kearse’s story is one that is all too common,” said ATF Assistant Special Agent in Charge Beau Kolodka. “Convicted felons have no business possessing firearms and Mr. Kearse’s acquisition of a firearm within four months of his release from prison has resulted in his return to prison for a long time.”

Federal law strictly prohibits firearm possession by individuals in nine categories, including convicted felons, illegal aliens, and unlawful users of controlled substances. It is also a federal crime to possess a gun in connection with drug trafficking or violent crime, or to lie on ATF Form 4473 when attempting to purchase a firearm. Prohibited persons who attempt to buy guns—or do so on behalf of others—face stiff federal penalties.

The case was jointly investigated by the ATF and the Savannah Police Department and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Joshua S. Bearden and Marcela C. Mateo. In the past three years, more than 700 defendants have been federally charged in the Southern District of Georgia for illegal firearms offenses, most tied to felons illegally holding weapons. Kearse’s case adds another grim chapter to the region’s ongoing battle with gun violence and repeat offenders.