Gun charge with mandatory minimum, drug possession charge against construction worker dismissed

Lawrence District Court # 93-6752. The prosecution alleged that in September of 1993 a Methuen police sergeant pulled over a car being driven by our client claiming the manner of operation was “erratic”. During the course of the stop the rear passenger made furtive movements. Upon contacting the occupants the officer notice the odor of marijuana coming from the interior of the vehicle. The occupants were removed from the car and searched. The rear passenger was in possession of a knife. .22 caliber ammunition was located in plain view. The defendant, our client gave evasive answers to the police officer’s questions as well as a fictitious name. An inventory search of the car was conducted during which officers located a .22 caliber revolver. Some marijuana was found in the car as well. The charge carried a mandatory minimum one year jail sentence. The defendant defaulted. He eventually got convicted of unrelated federal charges for which he served time. Upon his release he retained our office to resolve the outstanding firearm case. Today, Attorney Neyman succeeded in getting the gun carrying charge dismissed along with the marijuana charge. The defendant pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of possessing a firearm and placed on probation, concurrent with his federal court probation.