Billings, Montana – A man from Billings acknowledged to taking a man’s automobile at gunpoint, stealing it, and then leading police on a chase through Big Horn County and Yellowstone County.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana reports that 29-year-old Joseph Wayne Cantrell entered a plea of guilty to the charges of robbery and having a firearm while committing a crime.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s office, on January 8th, 2022, Cantrell approached a guy who was parked in a car in a Billings parking lot. According to the government, Cantrell drew a gun when the victim told him to leave.
Cantrell took the victim’s car after the victim turned it up to him. The car was spotted with Cantrell in it less than an hour later, according to the U.S. Attorney. He then took police on a chase into Big Horn County and Yellowstone County.
When trying to stop Carnell, police used spike strips and heard gunfire coming from the vehicle. The automobile window had been shot out, they discovered afterward.
Shortly after the car crashed, Cantrell escaped into a neighboring field while carrying his revolver. Cantrell gave up the gun and surrendered to authorities after a protracted standoff.
Cantrell faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison for the robbery charge, a fine of $1 million, and at least three years of supervised release. For the firearm charge, Cantrell must serve a mandatory sentence of seven years to life in prison followed by a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release.
