CNBNews

MAYS LANDING, NJ – On Thursday, July 20, 2023, Carlton Priester, 34, of Trenton, NJ was sentenced by the Honorable Bernard E. DeLury, Jr., P.J.Cr. to five years of probation for second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun over the State’s objection.

Priester originally pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. The agreed-upon sentence recommendation between the parties was three years in New Jersey State Prison, with a one-year period of parole ineligibility. At today’s sentencing, the defendant requested that he instead receive a probationary sentence since he is the sole caregiver for his young child and the caregiver for his grandmother.

On August 10, 2021, the New Jersey State Police conducted a motor vehicle stop on a 2010 black Volvo XC60, which was observed speeding on the Atlantic City Expressway eastbound around milepost 23.2, Hamilton Township, with three occupants, one of which was Priester.  Priester had an active arrest warrant and was subsequently taken into custody. A search of the vehicle uncovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, loaded with seven hollow-point rounds, under the front passenger seat. Ultimately, Priester admitted to possession and ownership of the handgun. The handgun was subsequently found to be stolen out of North Carolina.

Assistant Prosecutor David Little represented the State in this matter. The State plans to appeal the sentence.