Single bullet earns Savannah man, three-time convicted felon more than 8 years in federal prison

SAVANNAH, Ga. (WTOC) - 54-year-old Charles Harmon Porter was sentenced to 100 months in federal prison and three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to possession of ammunition by a convicted felon, according to Margaret E. Heap, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia.

“As described in court documents and at sentencing, on the night of May 29, 2023, Porter—a three-time convicted felon with prior convictions for offenses including terroristic threats, possession of cocaine, and obstruction of law enforcement—used a handgun to shoot his female roommate during a domestic dispute at their residence on Alma Street in Savannah," wrote the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia in a press release.

The release went on to say police obtained a warrant for his arrest and took him into custody within hours of the shooting. The attorney’s office said while Porter was being booked at the Chatham County Jail, a single round of ammunition was found in his pocket.

An ammunition examiner then determined the round was manufactured outside the state of Georgia, which made Porter’s possession of the round a federal crime.

Earlier this year, Porter was indicted in federal court for possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and pleaded guilty to the charge.

“The sentencing of Charles Harmon Porter reaffirms that this office will vigorously prosecute violent criminals who illegally possess firearms or ammunition down to the very last bullet as part of our commitment to public safety. We wish the victim the best in her continued recovery,” said U.S. Attorney Heap.

“Every bullet represents a potential threat to public safety; we will continue to work diligently to prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands,” said Acting ASAC Robert Davis.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and the Savannah Police Department investigated this case.

According to the attorney’s office, a related state charge of aggravated assault is still pending against Porter in Chatham County Superior Court.