After less than an hour and a half of deliberation, a Webster Parish jury found Daniel Smith (50) guilty as charged of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon. In September 2025, detectives with the Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department went to Watterman Street in Minden, Louisiana attempting to locate Daniel Smith in reference to an active warrant. Upon arrival, detectives made contact with the homeowner who showed them to the room where Smith was staying at the time. Detectives observed two cell phones and a loaded Springfield Armory XP .45 caliber handgun laying on the bed. While checking rooms in the house, Sgt. Josh McCormick heard a noise in the back bedroom that the homeowner claimed to be his room. The door was barricaded shut with a dresser in front of it. Detectives pushed the door open and discovered Daniel Smith inside. Smith admitted to detectives that he was in possession of the gun discovered in his room. Upon further investigation, detectives determined that Smith was a convicted felon and was prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Smith has multiple prior felony convictions and was even on parole for a felony burglary conviction at the time of this arrest. Due to his extensive criminal history, Smith could now be charged as a habitual felony offender which could significantly increase Smith’s prison sentence.
“The Webster Parish Sheriff’s Department should be commended for a job well done on this case. They were being proactive in looking for suspects with active warrants. Sgt. Josh McCormick, Lt. Chase Wimberly, and Det. Ben Allen did an outstanding job investigating this and apprehending Daniel Smith” said District Attorney Schuyler Marvin. “Our office does intend to file a habitual offender bill. Felons who carry guns will be pursued and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Jimbo Yocom and Daniel Smith was represented by attorney Mary Ellen Halterman with the Public Defender’s Office. Sentencing is set for July 6, 2026, in front of Judge Charles Smith. The sentencing range for Possession of Firearm by a Convicted Felon is five to twenty years in prison at hard labor subject to increase as a habitual felony offender.