Is Harmony Montgomery's father eligible for parole? Adam Montgomery, accused of killing daughter, sentenced ‘up to 65 years’ in firearms case
MANCHESTER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: In a courtroom filled with tension and emotion, Adam Montgomery, a 33-year-old man accused of murdering his missing daughter, Harmony Montgomery, was sentenced in a separate case involving stolen guns on Monday, August 7. The sentencing, presided over by Judge Amy B. Messer at the New Hampshire Superior Court, left Montgomery facing a term of imprisonment and bracing for an upcoming murder trial.
Stolen guns case verdict
Harmony Montgomery disappeared in 2019 and was later declared deceased. In a stunning development, Adam Montgomery's legal entanglements extended beyond the deeply distressing case of his missing daughter. In a separate case involving stolen firearms, Montgomery was found guilty on multiple counts.
(Manchester NH PD)
The stolen guns case reached its culmination as Judge Messer handed down the sentence. Montgomery was condemned to a substantial prison term of between 15 to 30 years for each of the two armed career criminal counts. Notably, these sentences were not concurrent but "consecutive to each other," a stark reminder of the gravity of the charges. Furthermore, Montgomery received additional sentences of seven and a half to 15 years for each of the two counts related to stealing guns. However, a glimmer of reprieve emerged as five years on each of these counts were suspended contingent upon good behavior. The legal intricacies of these sentences underscored the complexity of Montgomery's criminal record.
Adam Montgomery's emotional plea
As the courtroom listened in rapt attention, Montgomery delivered an emotional plea to the judge, imploring her not to allow the murder charges against him to sway her sentencing decision. "So I understand that I was found guilty by the jury. I'm not here to dispute that at all," he said. "The only consideration that I ask of you this morning is for you not to consider anything as it relates to the case regarding my daughter, Harmony."
"You probably won't believe me when I tell you that I didn't wake up one morning and chose to become an addict," he continued. "And I will spend my time in prison utilizing it to the best of my ability to change things about myself." He added, "I could have had a meaningful life, and I blew that opportunity through drugs. But I love my daughter unconditionally and I did not kill her. Please don't consider anything that relates to those charges. Only consider the facts of this case."
The hearing took a poignant turn as Montgomery laid bare the tumultuous path that led him into the criminal justice system. Acknowledging the consequences of his actions, he attributed his legal tribulations to drug addiction. He voiced his commitment to using his time in prison to initiate personal transformation, evoking both empathy and skepticism from those present.
Debate over length of sentence
The courtroom bore witness to a heated debate between prosecutors and defense attorneys regarding the appropriate length of Montgomery's sentence. Senior Assistant Attorney General Benjamin J Agati presented a compelling argument that Montgomery's criminal history bore significant weight. Agati highlighted Montgomery's prior convictions, including a disturbing incident where he held a knife to a 15-year-old girl's throat and another where he aimed a gun at both a woman and a police officer during a harrowing home invasion.
Agati contended that Montgomery's history reflected "significantly violent behavior" that necessitated a sentence of greater severity. His case against leniency underscored the substantial impact of Montgomery's actions on victims and communities at large.
Will Harmony Montgomery's father be eligible for parole?
Judge Messer's ruling drew upon the extensive record of Montgomery's past offenses. She emphasized the "egregious" nature of his prior conduct, particularly involving weapons in the commission of crimes. Messer's pronouncement of the sentence reflected her focus on the armed career criminal charges, excluding consideration of the pending murder charges against him. "You bragged about the guns," she told Montgomery. "You talked about them being hidden in the walls of your home. Trafficking of guns in the community, the violence that we see as a result of those guns being in the wrong hands cannot be minimized."
Montgomery's sentence, a departure from his defense team's request for a mandatory minimum, echoed the court's commitment to addressing the gravity of his previous actions. As the verdict was delivered, Montgomery's fate was sealed for the foreseeable future. According to WHDH, his eligibility for parole in the stolen guns case was set for the year 2053, marking a substantial duration of incarceration. However, Montgomery's legal journey is far from over. An upcoming murder trial looms on the horizon, set to commence on November 20, according to the Boston Globe.