11 Sep Maryland traffic stop results in weapons charges

On behalf of Jack B. Rubin, PA posted in Weapons Crimes on Thursday, September 11, 2014.

An Aug. 31 traffic stop in Elkton has resulted in a 34-year-old Newark man being taken into custody on weapons charges. The incident occurred around 3:45 a.m. on Landing Lane in the vicinity of the Hollingsworth Manor neighborhood. According to court records, an officer noticed a Mazda with a brake light out and pulled the driver over. A record search indicated that the man had a suspended driver’s license which led to a search of the car.

During the search, several weapons were allegedly found and confiscated. A pocketknife was found on the driver’s side floorboard, and the man was said to be carrying an additional knife in his pants pocket. A fully loaded Hi Point .40 caliber handgun was found in a pouch attached to the back of the front passenger’s seat. Records did not show the gun to be stolen. A black ski mask was also found in the trunk.

The Newark man was taken into custody and is facing several charges, including possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and illegal possession of a handgun. He was lodged in the Cecil County Detention Center with bond set at $150,000. According to the report, the man has two previous felony convictions on his record. One is for robbery, and the other is for an unlawful possession of a firearm.

A weapons charge is serious, and penalties usually carry mandatory minimum sentences. However, a strong defense sometimes results in charges being dropped or reduced. Anyone facing a weapons charge might want to discuss their situation with a criminal defense attorney who could help them determine their best course of action. In some cases, a plea deal might be the best choice. In other cases, it might be best to go to trial.

Source: Newark Post, “Newark man faces weapons charges following traffic stop“, Carl Hamilton, September 03, 2014