Man Caught with Handgun at Newark Airport

On December 20, 2016, Port Authority police at the Newark International Airport arrested a 30-year-old Pennsylvanian man after he was allegedly caught with a handgun at a security checkpoint.

According to the authorities, an X-ray machine at the Newark Airport detected a 40-caliber Glock 23 semi-automatic pistol in a backpack among the suspect’s carry-on items. The Port Authority police stated that they closed down the checkpoint lane while they confiscated the gun and arrested the man. As a result of the incident, the suspect has now been charged with unlawful possession of a weapon.

The unlawful possession of a handgun in New Jersey is a second degree crime. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 2C:39-5(b): “any person who knowingly has in his possession any handgun, including any antique handgun, without first having obtained a permit to carry the same as provided in N.J.S.A. 2C:58-4, is guilty of a crime of the second degree. If the handgun is in the nature of an air gun, spring gun or pistol or other weapon of a similar nature in which the propelling force is a spring, elastic band, carbon dioxide, compressed or other gas or vapor, air or compressed air, or is ignited by compressed air, and ejecting a bullet or missile smaller than three-eighths of an inch in diameter, with sufficient force to injure a person it is a crime of the third degree.” The bottom line is that the illegal possession of a handgun or pistol will either be a second degree crime or a third degree crime, depending upon the type of firearm.

Being charged with second degree unlawful possession of a weapon in New Jersey is extremely serious. As with all second degree felonies, the accused faces a sentence of 5-10 years in NJ State Prison. Additionally, the Graves Act also requires a mandatory prison sentence and parole ineligibility for those who are convicted of unlawful possession of a weapon – even if the defendant has no prior criminal history. For example, the usual plea offer on a weapons offense to someone with no prior criminal record is five years in state prison, with three years to be served without the possibility of parole.

Man Caught with Handgun At Newark Airport, Facing Illegal Gun Charges

If you have been charged with a gun-related offense, contact the experienced firearms defense lawyers at the Tormey Law Firm to learn more about how to fight your charges.