An east Alabama man is going to prison after he chased his girlfriend down the street with a short-barreled shotgun.

U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor sentenced 49-year-old Matthew Hal McCraney, of Ohatchee, to 63 months – more than five years – in federal prison, according to an announcement Friday by Northern District of Alabama U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona and ATF Special Agent in Charge Marcus Watson.

McCraney in August pleaded guilty to being a felon in possession of a firearm.

On Sept. 15, 2022, McCraney got into an argument with girlfriend. According to court documents, McCraney grabbed a short-barreled shotgun and chased her down the street.

Anniston police officers responded to the scene. At that point, authorities said, the fleeing McCraney slid down an embankment and into a fence.

Officers recovered the 12-gauge shotgun in some nearby bushes.

McCraney is prohibited from possessing a firearm because of multiple prior felony convictions, including felony battery and battery on a law officer or firefighter.

ATF investigated the case, along with the Anniston Police Department. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Daniel S. McBrayer and Darius C. Greene prosecuted.