Newark Handgun Possession SuspectAn Orange New Jersey man was recently sentenced to eight years in NJ State Prison after being convicted of illegal handgun possession and cocaine possession.

The suspect was placed under arrest on April 29, 2016. He was walking near the intersection of Hickory Street and Taylor Street in Orange when two Orange NJ cops saw him carrying a handgun. The suspect attempted to flee the scene, but the police officers managed to catch up to him.

While being pursued, the suspect threw a .380 Smith and Wesson handgun into a yard. Police later recovered the semi-automatic firearm.

Police also searched the suspect and found him carrying 20 Ziploc bags of crack cocaine.

The suspect, a 28-year-old Orange resident, was charged with numerous crimes, including unlawful possession of a weapon, possession of cocaine, and resisting arrest by flight.

In October 2016, the suspect was convicted by an Essex County Superior Court jury on the charges.

Now the suspect is headed to New Jersey State Prison. He recently made an appearance in Essex County Superior Court in Newark for a formal sentencing hearing, with the judge sentenced him to eight years for the gun crime, four years for the drug offense, and 18 months for resisting arrest. The sentences will run concurrently and the suspect will not be eligible for parole for four years.

For further information about this case, read the NJ.com article, “Man Sentenced for Having Gun, Drugs in Orange.”