A Chattanooga man who, according to his attorney, began committing crimes after he was shot in the head in 1986, was sentenced on Thursday to serve 15 years in federal prison.
Maurice Carter, 50, appeared before Judge Curtis Collier.
Attorney Mitch Carter said his client still has bullet fragments in his head from the shooting.
He said it left him with some cognitive impairment.
Attorney Carter said there were several mental evaluations done - with some specialists ruling that he was not competent to proceed in court and others saying he is. It was finally concluded that he was competent.
Carter was arrested Aug. 5, 2011, after officers found him sitting on a porch on North Orchard Knob Avenue. He was found with crack cocaine and a gun. There was more cocaine in a nearby car.
Police said Carter stated when the gun was found, "Ya'll really got me this time."
As an "armed career criminal," his sentencing range was 188-235 months. Prosecutor Chris Poole did not oppose a reduction to 180 months.
Attorney Carter said Carter has been "living a very solitary life and keeping to himself" in jail.
Carter told the judge that he has been involved in crime, but nothing involving violence or hurting anyone.