Great Falls man sentenced to over 3 years in prison for illegally possessing a firearm (DOJ)

GREAT FALLS - A Great Falls man who shot up his house near Lincoln Elementary School was found to be in unlawful possession of a firearm and was sentenced Monday to three years and six months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, Acting U.S. Attorney Mark Steger Smith said.

Timothy Paul Whittles, 59, pleaded guilty in March 2026 to one count of prohibited person in possession of a firearm.

Chief U.S. District Judge Brian M. Morris presided.

The government alleged in court documents that Whittles, who had six prior felony convictions prohibiting him from owning a firearm, shot up his home with a handgun while high on meth.

Whittles called 911 around 8 a.m. on March 22, 2025, saying he heard intruders and gunshots in his home. While on the call, the dispatcher heard Whittles load a gun and fire it. When officers arrived at Whittles's residence, they heard gunshots from inside. The front door was riddled with multiple bullet holes and its glass was shattered.

The home sits near Lincoln Elementary School, and as officers investigated, they found that the bullets were shot from the inside toward the school. Officers directed Whittles to come out of his house and detained him. Surveillance footage from Lincoln Elementary showed Whittles getting home at 5 a.m., repeatedly entering and leaving his house, and walking around his car. The footage showed no other people at the house, and when officers searched inside the home, they found no sign of intruders or a break-in. On the basement staircase, officers found a .45 caliber handgun, an empty magazine, and dozens of spent shell casings throughout the house.

The U.S. Attorney's Office prosecuted the case. The Great Falls Police Department and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducted the investigation.