A Carbon County man is in Schuylkill County Prison after police say they found him acting erratically, sweating profusely, and carrying a stolen handgun in downtown Pottsville recently.
On Feb. 22, police in Pottsville were dispatched to the game room of Pottsville Hotel – the former Ramada Inn – for a report of a bald man with face tattoos who was probably intoxicated and carrying a gun.
When police arrived, the encountered Justin Stevens, 39, in the game room. He was sweating profusely at the time. Police say they asked him if he had a gun on him. Stevens reportedly said no but also pointed at his waistband. During a pat down, police say they found a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard in his waistband, covered by his sweatshirt. The gun had a round in the chamber and five additional rounds in the magazine.
Police say they asked Stevens if the gun was his. He reportedly said he just purchased the gun from a person named “Bobby” for $300 and that he was in the process of transferring it. A check on the gun showed that it was not registered to anyone named “Bobby” or anything like that, police say.
Contact was then made the registered owner of the gun. She told police that she last saw the gun in her purse a week ago and wanted to report it stolen.
Police say a search of Stevens’ bookbag resulted in the discovery of a pill bottle containing 14 blue tablets that were later identified as Clonazepam, which is often marketed under the brand name Klonopin.
Stevens was arraigned during the early morning hours of Feb. 23 before District Magistrate David Plachko. Police are charging him with receiving stolen property and carrying an unlicensed firearm, both felonies, as well as a misdemeanor for possession of a controlled substance and summary offenses of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Plachko set bail at $25,000 and remanded him to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled for Monday afternoon before Judge James Reiley.
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