MANCHESTER, N.H. (Court TV) — Adam Montgomery was sentenced to spend at least 30 years in prison and up to 60 years on charges of being an armed criminal.
Adam, the father of missing Harmony Montgomery, was convicted of eight charges related to the 2019 thefts.
Addressing the court before the judge handed down his sentence, Adam denied he killed his daughter, the Associated Press reported.
“I did not kill my daughter Harmony and I look forward to my upcoming trial to refute those offensive claims,” he said. “I could have had a meaningful life but I blew that opportunity through drugs. … I loved my daughter unconditionally and I did not kill her.”
After hearing from both sides, Hillsborough Superior Court Judge Amy Messer sentenced Adam to at least 30 years in prison and up to 60 years on the charges of being an armed career criminal, the AP reported. He was also sentenced to an additional 7 1/2 to 15 years for receiving stolen property and theft.
Adam Montgomery reacts as the jury’s verdict is read in his weapon’s trial Thursday, June 8, 2023. (Court TV)
Authorities accused Adam of stealing two firearms on two separate dates from the home of a person identified as C.F. in court documents.
At the time of his arrest in April 2022, Adam was in custody on assault charges related to Harmony’s case. Attorney General John Formella said in a news release, “There is no evidence of any connection between the stolen firearms and the disappearance of Harmony Montgomery.”
Prosecutors called Adam’s estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, as a witness. Kayla is currently in custody on a felony charge of theft by deception for allegedly lying about Harmony’s whereabouts.
In Nov., Adam is scheduled to stand trial in the presumed death of his missing daughter, Harmony Montgomery. Authorities claim he killed 5-year-old Harmony in Dec. 2019. She wasn’t reported missing until Nov. 2021. In Aug. 2022, authorities said they believed she had been killed. They announced charges against Adam two months later. Investigators are still searching for her remains.
DAILY TRIAL UPDATES
DAY 5 – 6/8/23
- The jury finds Adam Montgomery guilty of all charges:
- Count 1: Armed Career Criminal (Rifle) GUILTY
- Count 2: Armed Career Criminal (Shotgun) GUILTY
- Count 3: Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Rifle) GUILTY
- Count 4: Felon in Possession of a Firearm (Shotgun) GUILTY
- Count 5: Receiving Stolen Property (Rifle) GUILTY
- Count 6: Receiving Stolen Property (Shotgun) GUILTY
- Count 7: Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer (Rifle) GUILTY
- Count 8: Theft by Unauthorized Taking or Transfer (Shotgun) GUILTY
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery Weapons Trial: Watch the Verdict
DAY 4 – 6/7/23
- The defense called two witnesses to the stand before resting its case.
- The prosecution and defense delivered closing arguments.
- The jury, comprised of 2 men and 10 women, deliberated for several hours before leaving for the evening. Deliberations will resume on Thursday morning.
- The jury asked one question on Wednesday afternoon, but the question was not released to the media.
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery Weapons Trial: Jury Deliberating
DAY 3 – 6/5/23
- The defendant’s estranged wife, Kayla Montgomery, testifies for the prosecution
- Kayla said the night Chris Frain’s firearms were stolen, she didn’t see Adam bring those guns into hers and Adam’s house.
- Kayla said first time she saw Adam with the stolen guns, she was in the kitchen taking care of the kids, and Adam was showing the firearms in the living room to people to try and sell/trade them.
- Kayla said another time she saw the guns, it was during an exchange between Adam and two white guys in her attic.
- Kayla said in another instance, Kevin LaBelle was looking at one of the guns.
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery’s Wife Testifies Against Him
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery Weapons Trial: Kayla Montgomery on Cross-Examination
- Detective Ryan Olsen testified to conducting a search warrant on a place of residence that was occupied by a man named Jonathan Sergeant.. At this location, approximately six guns were seized, including a Stag Arms rifle.
DAY 2 – 6/2/23
- Kevin LaBelle testified to Adam displaying both a shotgun and an AR-15 for him, and then ultimately buying the shotgun from Adam for $250.
- Michael Sullivan testified to an instance where Adam was showing off a shotgun to his friends, and another instance when he observed Adam trading a rifle for drugs. On direct, Mike said the rifle was an AR-15. On cross, he said he wasn’t sure if it was an AR-15 or an AK-47 bc he didn’t get a clear view of the gun bc there was a sheet over it.
- Michael Sullivan also testified to a conversation he had with Adam where they were discussing whether or not Kim Frain’s statements about cameras supposedly capturing evidence around her house was something to be concerned about. In this discussion, Adam said that he knew Kim was lying bc if there were cameras, he’d be in jail.
DAY 1 – 6/1/23
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery Weapons Trial: Day 1 Recap
- The jury hears opening statements
- Chris Frain testified that his 12-gauge and AR-15 rifle were stolen.
- Kim Frain, Chris’ ex-wife, testified to the details of the night Chris’ guns were stolen, saying that Adam Montgomery came over and they both fell asleep. When she woke up, Adam was gone and a door was left open.
- Kim admitted that she hadn’t gone to sleep for days before Adam came over due to the effects of the drugs she had been taking.
- Kim admitted during cross-examination that she assumed Ishmael Garcia, her drug dealer, knew where the guns were in the house and that she had previously allowed him to use her car as well as Chris’ .380 and .45 in exchange for drugs.
- Kim said she heard from friends that Adam may have stolen the guns, so she asked Adam’s ex, Kayla, about them. She said she told Kayla that the neighbors had cameras, and Kayla then asked which way the cameras point.
- WATCH: Adam Montgomery Weapons Trial: Victim’s Ex-Wife Testifies
- Mark Reed testified to a text exchange on Oct. 3, 2019, where Adam tried to sell him a 12-gauge shotgun. Reed said he didn’t have enough heroin and cash, so he didn’t end up buying the gun.
