Dooley Sentenced To 10 Years In Federal Prison For Felony Possession Of A Firearm

SHREVEPORT, La. – United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Thomas R. Dooley Jr., 28, of Webster, La., was sentenced on Tuesday, April 16, 2013, by U.S. District Judge Maurice S. Hicks to 10 years in federal prison and three years supervised release for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon to be served after completion of his state prison term.

According to courtroom testimony, Dooley stole a .22 caliber handgun and used it to rob a Haughton, La., business on May 20, 2011. Haughton Police responded and stopped Dooley’s vehicle, but Dooley then sped away leading authorities on a high-speed chase. During the chase, Dooley fired his weapon at a pursuing officer, attempted to ram a Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office vehicle, and caused another vehicle to crash. After turning down a dead-end road, Dooley lost control of his truck and his vehicle ran into a tree. Then, he fled on foot. The handgun was found in his truck with all nine rounds fired. Dooley was later apprehended by law enforcement.

Dooley entered a guilty plea on July 23, 2012, in the 26th Judicial District Court, Bossier and Webster parishes, and was sentenced to 40 years in prison on Nov. 20, 2012, for attempted first degree murder of a peace officer and armed robbery.

Dooley pleaded guilty to the federal charge on Dec. 12, 2012. Dooley’s 10-year federal sentence is to be served consecutive to the state court sentence, and the federal sentence begins to be served after he completes his 40-year state court sentence.

“The defendant put citizens and law enforcement officers in harm’s way during the high-speed chase,” Finley stated. “Possessing a firearm by a convicted felon is illegal, and our office will continue to prosecute these cases. We hope these sentences send a message that this type of crime will not be tolerated.”

The Haughton Police Department, Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office, Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office, and the Shreveport office of the ATF conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert W. Gillespie Jr. prosecuted the case.