Texas Man Sentenced To 46 Months For Illegally Possessing A Firearm And Ammunition

MOBILE, AL - Hunter Bixler, a Texas man, has been sentenced to 46 months in federal prison for possessing a firearm and ammunition as a previously convicted felon. The sentence was imposed by United States District Judge Kristi K. DuBose.

According to court documents, in December 2023, Bixler was pulled over for a traffic violation by a deputy with the Mobile County Sheriff's Office. Bixler had previously been convicted of two felonies in Texas and was the subject of outstanding warrants active in Texas. When asked for a driver's license, Bixler did not provide one and instead provided the deputy with a false name and incorrect personal identifiers. While the first deputy continued to investigate the traffic violation and Bixler's identity, another deputy arrived to provide assistance. The deputies observed that Bixler was attempting to conceal a firearm under his leg. Bixler bladed his body towards the passenger, then abruptly turned back to the first deputy, who was at the driver side window. Fearing for his personal safety and that he was about to be fired upon by Bixler, the deputy at the driver side window discharged his service weapon and hit Bixler in the hand. Bixler was taken into custody and transported to the hospital to receive treatment for his hand. While in the hospital, the Defendant attempted to escape from the custody of the Mobile County Sheriff's Office and was quickly re-apprehended. An Escape in the First Degree charge is pending before the Mobile County Grand Jury based on Bixler's actions at the hospital.

At sentencing, Judge DuBose imposed a 46-month sentence of incarceration and a three-year term of supervised release upon Bixler's discharge from prison. During his term of supervised release, Bixler will be subject to substance abuse testing and treatment as well has mental health treatment.

The Mobile County Sheriff's Office and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Beth Stepan prosecuted the case on behalf of the United States.

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and gun violence, and to make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. On May 26, 2021, the department launched a violent crime reduction strategy strengthening PSN based on these core principles: fostering trust and legitimacy in our communities, supporting community-based organizations that help prevent violence from occurring in the first place, setting focused and strategic enforcement priorities, and measuring the results.