Four Indy men sentenced to combined 19 years in prison for illegal firearm possession

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Four previously convicted Indianapolis men have been sentenced to a combined 19 years in prison for illegal firearm possession, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Indiana announced Wednesday.

U.S. District Court Judges Jane Magnus-Stinson, Tanya Walton Pratt and James Hanlon imposed sentences on Christopher Martin, 33, Desmond Hess, 33, Andrew Pernell, 44, and Jessie Stephens, 24, for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. The men were prosecuted in separate, independent cases.

“Convicted violent felons who continue to arm themselves pose a grave threat to our communities,” said Tom Wheeler, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana, in a released statement. “These prosecutions demonstrate our commitment to working with federal, state, and local law enforcement to remove illegal firearms from the streets and hold offenders accountable. We will not tolerate individuals who repeatedly disregard the law and endanger public safety.”

Six firearms, some reported stolen years prior, were seized and forfeited to law enforcement as part of the investigations.

Hess and Martin

According to a news release, on Nov. 17, 2023, Lawrence police officers attempted a traffic stop on Hess (the driver) and Martin (the passenger), who fled at high speeds, eventually crashing and abandoning their vehicle.

A search of the wrecked car revealed two loaded handguns—one of which had been reported stolen —and an AR-style pistol equipped with an illegal machinegun conversion device. Both men were later arrested on outstanding warrants.

Martin, who was previously convicted and incarcerated for reckless homicide and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, was sentenced to five years in prison, and Hess, who was previously convicted and incarcerated for criminal confinement and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

Pernell

Then, on July 19, 2024, an off-duty Indianapolis police officer, driving a personal vehicle, stopped at a downtown Indy traffic light. When the light turned green, Pernell walked in front of the officer’s vehicle and brandished a semiautomatic pistol. Seeing the gun, the officer, still in his car, drew his service weapon. Pernell chambered a round, pointed the gun at the officer and fled.

Pernell was found by officers later that day carrying a loaded semiautomatic pistol, which had been reported stolen in 2022.

Pernell, who was previously convicted and incarcerated for dealing cocaine and possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison.

Stephens

On Feb. 10, 2025, after an electronically-monitored Stephens was tracked near the residence of a person with a no-contract order against him, Indianapolis officers conducted a welfare check.

Stephens then threw a loaded handgun over a fence when officers approached. He was arrested that day without incident, the announcement stated.

Stephens, who was previously convicted and incarcerated for strangulation, domestic battery resulting in serious bodily injury, intimidation, criminal confinement and resisting law enforcement, was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.