Pitt County Man Who Brandished Gun at State Trooper After High-Speed Chase Sentenced to Nearly Nine Years in Prison (DOJ)

<_w3a_listitem listvalue="RALEIGH" datavalue="RALEIGH"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="GREENVILLE" datavalue="GREENVILLE"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="NEW BERN" datavalue="NEW BERN"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="WILMINGTON" datavalue="WILMINGTON"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="ELIZABETH CITY" datavalue="ELIZABETH CITY">RALEIGH, N.C. - A Pitt County man was sentenced to 107 months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. On September 30, 2024, Kenneth Charles Kinard, age 35, pled guilty to the charge.

"North Carolina's State Troopers are some of the best trained law enforcement personnel in the nation," said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley, Jr. "They make split second decisions that save lives - keeping our families safe on the highways, rescuing stranded motorists, and recovering victims of human trafficking. Their jobs are dangerous enough as it is. When anyone draws, levels, or fires a gun at law enforcement, we'll take swift action to hold felons accountable."

"This case highlights the ever-present dangers our troopers face as they go about their mission to protect the people of North Carolina," said Commander of the State Highway Patrol, Colonel Freddy L. Johnson, Jr. "I am so very thankful that our members training, and quick thinking led to a positive outcome that day and the great work by our partners at the Department of Justice in the months since have brought about a conviction and this sentencing."

According to court documents and other information presented in court, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol attempted to stop Kinard for driving 90-mph in a 70-mph zone on I-587 in Pitt County. Kinard refused to stop and accelerated leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase. The chase ended in Farmville when Kinard abruptly stopped his car and fled on foot. As Kinard was fleeing, a Trooper observed Kinard carrying a handgun. During the pursuit, Kinard turned toward the Trooper brandishing the firearm. The Trooper repeatedly ordered Kinard to drop his weapon. Kinard refused to comply, and the Trooper ultimately discharged his firearm at Kinard, striking him in the leg and causing Kinard to fall to the ground and dropping the firearm, a Ruger 9mm handgun.

Kinard was previously convicted of multiple counts of grand larceny and a felony-controlled substance violation in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Michael F. Easley, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, made the announcement after sentencing by <_w3a_listitem listvalue="Choose an item."><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle" datavalue="U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan" datavalue="U.S. District Judge Louise W. Flanagan"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III" datavalue="U.S. District Judge James C. Dever III"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II" datavalue="Chief U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Senior U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt" datavalue="Senior U.S. District Judge W. Earl Britt"><_w3a_listitem listvalue="Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard" datavalue="Senior U.S. District Judge Malcolm J. Howard">U.S. District Judge Terrence W. Boyle. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF); Pitt County Sheriff's Office; Greenville Police Department; North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation; and North Carolina State Highway Patrol investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Phil Aubart and Lori Warlick prosecuted the case.

Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 4:24-CR-37-BO-RJ.