DA details weapons charges against ex-Fresno State basketball player Joseph Hunter
Former Fresno State basketball player Joseph Hunter has been charged with two felonies by the Fresno County District Attorney following an arrest on weapons charges.
Hunter, the top player in coach Justin Hutson’s 2022 recruiting class, faces one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking and one count of possession of an assault weapon.
He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday morning in Fresno County Superior Court and if convicted the San Joaquin Memorial High graduate faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months.
Two others arrested with Hunter also face felony charges — Isaiah Pirtle, according to the district attorney’s office committed one count of conspiracy to commit firearms trafficking, one count of possession of a firearm by a felon and one count of possession of ammunition by a felon; Vonkell Damar Holmes faces charges of possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of an assault weapon.
Hunter and Pirtle were arrested May 26 following an investigation by the Central Valley Gun Crime Task Force, and after the completion of multiple search warrants. Holmes remains at large.
Hunter, a four-star recruited regarded as one of the top shooting guards in the nation, was dismissed from the team following his arrest.
Hunter faces a maximum sentence of three years and eight months If convicted of the charges and allegations. Pirtle faces a maximum of eight years and eight months and Holmes a maximum of three years and eight months.
Hunter was first arrested on May 16 along with Pirtle, Holmes and Qiwan Terry Whittiker following a routine traffic stop at North Bengston Avenue and West Ashlan Avenues.
Whittiker, who was the driver, remained in the vehicle while the other three fled, according to Fresno Police. When officers confronted the three on West Buckingham Way, two of them surrendered while a third continued running and was apprehended with the assistance of a police helicopter.
DA’s timeline of attempts to sell, buy and trade firearms
Officers found an unregistered AR-15 style .223 rifle in plain view in the rear passenger seat with a 30-round magazine with 20 live rounds of ammunition.
The Fresno County District Attorney’s Office declined to file charges against Hunter following that arrest, but the Central Valley Gun Crime Task Force continued to investigate and Hunter and Pirtle were arrested on May 26.
According to the criminal complaint released by the district attorney’s office on Wednesday afternoon, Pirtle and Hunter first attempted to trade a Glock 22 handgun belonging to Hunter for a Glock 23 from an unknown buyer on April 9, the first of a months-long log of activity.
April 10 - Hunter and Pirtle discussed appropriate pricing for a handgun Hunter has listed for sale and Hunter offered to further sell a Glock 19 in Pirtle’s possession
April 12 - Hunter and Pirtle tried to find a person selling a privately manufactured or “ghost” gun.
April 13 - Pirtle arranged the sale of a Glock 19 and Hunter contacted an individual selling a Glock 21.
April 18 - Hunter acquired a firearm.
April 19 - Hunter and Pirtle possessed a stolen tan Glock 19, which was subsequently recovered from an unrelated individual in a traffic stop.
April 28 - Pirtle and Hunter attempted to trade a firearm for a Glock 23 Gen 5 and Pirtle instructed Hunter on how to convert a Glock 23 to be fully automatic.
May 4 - Hunter and Pirtle arranged a ride to purchase two firearms but were unable to complete the transaction when the buyer backed out.
May 5 - Hunter and Pirtle attempted to purchase a partially privately manufactured Glock handgun, and Pirtle sent a picture to Hunter of a privately manufactured Glock-style “ghost” handun in Pirtle’s possession.
May 7 and May 8 - Pirtle and Hunter offer for sale a gray-framed Glock 19, a black-framed privately manufactured “ghost” handgun and an AR-style firearm.
May 14 - Hunter offers his AR for sale for a Glock 22 handgun and Glock 23 handgun, Hunter offers Pirtle’s Glock 19 and PMF for sale and Hunter acquires a Glock 19 Gen 5 handgun.
A history of arrests
May 15 and May 16 - Hunter tried to sell a firearm and had the firearm taken by the buyer.
May 16 - Hunter and Pirtle transported an AR-15 firearm in a vehicle.
The relationship between the men is unclear: Pirtle is from Chowchilla and Holmes from Sacramento.
The May 16 arrest was the first for Hunter, 19. Pirtle, Holmes and Whitaker have long arrest records.
Whittiker, 25, had prior arrests for possession of stolen vehicle, possession of a concealed weapon in a vehicle and carrying a loaded firearm in public.
Pirtle, 23, has past arrests for grand theft from a person, burglary, vandalism, theft, robbery, assault with a deadly weapon, obtaining money by false pretenses, parole violation and resisting arrest.
Holmes, 22, has arrests for theft, carrying a concealed weapon, grand theft, possession of ammunition by a prohibited person, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, participating in a criminal street gang, child cruelty, possession of marijuana for sale and robbery.
