Bobb’e J. Thompson, the former child star who played Stanley on Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven, has been sentenced to 30 months in federal prison on a felony gun charge.
The 30-year-old actor received the two-and-a-half-year sentence Thursday from a federal judge in Iowa, court records show. Thompson had entered a formal guilty plea back in April. He will also face three years of supervised release after he completes his prison term.
The case originated from a traffic stop last year when officers clocked Thompson driving 104 mph in a 70 mph zone on an Iowa highway. During the roadside search of his vehicle, investigators discovered several packages of dispensary-purchased cannabis and a loaded.40-caliber handgun.
Forensic examination later determined the firearm had been reported stolen from a vehicle in Kansas City, Missouri. Federal prosecutors took up the case because Thompson’s prior felony convictions barred him from legally possessing any firearms or ammunition under federal law.
His criminal record includes a 2022 conviction for battery causing serious bodily injury, assault, and prohibited possession of a firearm, according to prosecution filings.
Thompson currently remains in United States Marshals Service custody while awaiting assignment to a Federal Bureau of Prisons facility.
The actor first broke through in the early 2000s as one of the most recognizable young performers on television. His role as the quick-witted neighbor Stanley on That’s So Raven ran across multiple seasons of the Disney Channel hit and made him a household name among young viewers. He simultaneously co-starred on NBC’s The Tracy Morgan Show.
Thompson’s transition to film brought him perhaps his most celebrated performance. In the 2008 comedy Role Models, he held his own opposite Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as Ronnie Shields, a foul-mouthed young troublemaker matched with Rudd’s character in a Big Brothers-style mentoring program. The role earned him widespread critical praise for his comedic timing.
His television resume extended to recurring spots on Tina Fey’s 30 Rock, Nick Cannon’s Wild ‘N Out, and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne. He also lent his voice to animated projects including Shark Tale and The Boondocks.
In recent years, Thompson’s screen appearances had grown increasingly sporadic as legal troubles mounted. The Iowa traffic stop and subsequent federal indictment marked the latest in a string of encounters with law enforcement that have overshadowed his early career success.