NORRISTOWN — An Upper Pottsgrove Township man potentially faces prison time after he admitted to illegal possession of a stolen handgun during a traffic stop along Route 422 in Upper Providence Township.
Nickolas O. Newton, 29, of the 1500 block of Aspen Drive, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to felony charges of person not to possess a firearm, carrying a firearm without a license and receiving stolen property in connection with an October 2022 incident.
Judge Steven T. O’Neill deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Newton, who will undergo drug, alcohol and mental health evaluations prior to sentencing.
Newton, who remains free on bail pending his sentencing hearing later this year, faces up to 12 years in prison on the charges. However, state sentencing guidelines could allow for a lesser sentence.
The investigation began about 1:12 a.m. Oct. 27, 2022, when state police at Skippack on routine patrol on westbound Route 422 observed a white Nissan Altima sedan bearing inoperable registration lamps and conducted a traffic stop along the highway in Upper Providence, according to the criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper Reginald Washington.
At that time, Newton told police he was going home from Norristown. When asked by police if there were any weapons in the vehicle Newton looked at the floor and related “No,” according to the arrest affidavit.
A records check indicated Newton’s driver’s license had been suspended and that he had a prior felony conviction for aggravated assault stemming from a 2015 incident in Norristown, which made him a person prohibited from possessing a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.
“We approached the vehicle a second time which Newton appeared nervous and was observed smoking a cigarette and his hands were shaking,” Washington alleged, adding Newton stated he was nervous because he was pulled over. “Newton was again asked if there was anything inside the vehicle, which he related there was nothing inside the car.”
Newton subsequently consented to a search of the vehicle. During that search, police located a 9mm Girsan handgun underneath the driver’s seat.
“The location of the firearm was easily accessible for Newton. At that time, Newton was placed into custody without incident and the firearm was seized from the vehicle,” Washington wrote in the criminal complaint.
Police said the investigation ultimately determined that the firearm that was seized had been reported as stolen in February 2022 to Philadelphia police.
Other charges of driving under suspension, driving without a license and operating a vehicle with no rear lighting system are slated to be dismissed against Newton at time of sentencing.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle is handling the case. Defense lawyer George Griffith Jr. represented Newton during the court proceedings.
