Morristown NJ Handgun Possession AttorneysA Morristown New Jersey man has been sentenced to five years behind bars after pleading guilty to charges of illegally possessing a handgun that may have been used in a shooting.

The suspect, a 25-year-old resident of Morristown NJ, was allegedly apprehended while carrying a handgun used in a shooting incident on Lincoln Street in January 2014. Authorities later said that the shooting may have occurred in the immediate aftermath of an illegal drug deal.

Morris County prosecutors initially charged the suspect with attempted murder and various weapons offenses for allegedly using to the firearm to shoot the victim in the leg.

Sometime after being formally charged in the case, the suspect arrived at a plea deal with Morris County NJ prosecutors. In exchange for the suspect pleading guilty to charges of unlawful possession of a weapon, prosecutors agreed to recommend a sentence of five years in New Jersey State Prison.

At some point prior to sentencing, however, the suspect reportedly considered withdrawing his guilty plea. He claimed that he had been pressured into the agreement by his criminal defense attorney. In the end, the suspect told the Morris County Superior Court judge that he did not wish to withdraw his plea of guilty.

The suspect did attempt to get his sentence downgraded during the sentencing hearing in Morris County Superior Court, which is located in Morristown, NJ. The suspect said that his father and sister, both of whom were injured in a car accident, needed him at home to care for them.

The judge ultimately decided to sentence to suspect to five years in state prison, with a minimum mandatory term of incarceration of 42 months before the suspect is eligible for parole.

For additional information about this case, see the DailyRecord.com article, “Morristown Man Gets Five Years Prison for Having Handgun in Town.”