JAMESTOWN – Two men from Pennsylvania and one from Jamestown are in police custody following a traffic stop Tuesday night that resulted in the discovery of illegal gun possession.
Jamestown Police say officers stopped a vehicle at about 9:35 p.m. Tuesday in the area of East Seventh and N orth Main Streets for an alleged traffic violation. A further investigation revealed that the three occupants of the vehicle, 49 year-old John Mooney Jr. of Albion, Pa.; 48 year-old Scott Weaver of Edinboro, Pa.; and 35 year-old Gerald Samuels of Jamestown were allegedly in possession of a loaded firearm, along with drug paraphernalia, open alcohol containers, and a small quantity of marijuana. An additional loaded firearm was allegedly found on Mooney’s possession.
Mooney, who was the driver of the vehicle, is charged with two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon (2nd Degree), Criminally using Drug Paraphernalia, Unlawful possession of marijuana, Vehicle and Traffic Law – Consuming Alcohol in a motor vehicle, and Vehicle and Traffic Law – No/Inadequate turn signal.
Weaver faces charges of criminal possession of a weapon (2nd degree), Criminal using drug paraphernalia, and unlawful possession of Marijuana.
Samuels is charged with criminal possession of a weapon (2nd degree).
Mooney, Weaver, and Samuels were transported to Jamestown City Jail without incident and were awaiting arraignment.
In New York State, a person is charged with second degree criminal possession of a weapon when that person possesses a loaded firearm outside his or her home or place of business without a permit, regardless of what the intent is. There is a mandatory minimum sentence of 3.5 year in prison and a maximum term of 15 years in prison for anyone convicted of the offense, regardless of prior arrest or conviction record.
Earlier this year District Attorney Patrick Swanson had said he would no longer seek plea deals for anyone facing illegal gun charges, meaning Haskins could serve at least 3.5 years in prison if convicted on the charge.
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