A Camden NJ man has pleaded guilty to a certain persons offense for being a convicted felon who was unlawfully in possession of a loaded handgun.
The incident occurred in August 2013, when a Deptford Township NJ patrol officer pulled over a vehicle in which the suspect was an occupant. While the officer conducted an investigating and ran checks on the vehicle passengers, the 22-year-old suspect allegedly admitted to the officer that he had a weapon on his person.
When police officers subsequently searched the suspect, they reportedly found him with a loaded .44 Smith & Wesson Magnum handgun.
The suspect was arrested and charged with a certain persons offense because he is a convicted felon who is barred from possessing a handgun in New Jersey.
The suspect’s earlier criminal convictions were related to illegal drug convictions in Camden County, New Jersey.
The suspect recently appeared in Gloucester County Superior Court so that he could enter his guilty plea.
Since a certain persons offense is considered a second degree crime, the suspect faced a possible sentence of up to 10 years in New Jersey State Prison had he taken his chances at trial. Instead, as part of the plea agreement, prosecutors intend to recommend a sentence of 5 years in state prison. The suspect will be required to serve 3 years before he becomes eligible for release on parole.
The suspect will have to return to the Gloucester County Superior Court in December so that he can be officially sentenced by the superior court judge.
For more information about this case, view the NJ.com article entitled “Camden Man Faces 5 Years for Possession of Loaded Handgun.”
