A Camden New Jersey man pleaded guilty to a certain persons offense after police found him in possession of a handgun.

A Deptford Township police officer stopped a vehicle in which the suspect was a passenger on August 30, 2013. While the officer investigated and ran checks on the vehicle occupants, the 22-year-old suspect reportedly told the officer that he had a handgun on his person.

When police searched the suspect, they found him with a loaded .44 Smith & Wesson Magnum handgun.

The suspect was subsequently placed under arrest and charged with a certain persons offense because he is a convicted felon who is prohibited from possessing any weapons in the State of New Jersey.

The suspect’s prior convictions stemmed from illegal drug convictions in Camden County, NJ.

The suspect recently made an appearance in Gloucester County Superior Court, where he entered his guilty plea.

Since a certain persons offense is classified as a second degree felony, the suspect could have been sentenced to up to 10 years in NJ State Prison had he gone to trial. Instead, in accordance with the plea agreement, prosecutors plan to recommend a sentence of just 5 years in state prison. The suspect will have to serve 3 years before becoming eligible for parole.

The suspect will need to return to the Gloucester County Superior Court in December for formal sentencing.

For additional information about this case, see the NJ.com article entitled “Camden Man Faces 5 Years for Possession of Loaded Handgun.”