Providence Firearm Case: Strong Defense Leads to Dismissal
Criminal Charges:
Young man charged in the Rhode Island Superior Court (Providence County) for:
- Carrying a Firearm without a License, in violation of R.I.G.L. § 11-47-8(a)
Case Overview:
While on routine patrol, Providence Police observed a vehicle with heavy tint to be operating with no lights. The police activated the overhead lights; however, the vehicle failed to stop immediately. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers observed the front passenger and rear passenger to be making movements towards the floorboards. Officers asked the rear passenger to roll the window down, but the young man did not speak English and did not comprehend the commands. Officers then removed the occupants, and upon a sweep of the vehicle, located an empty box of ammunition and ultimately a firearm under the floor mat where the rear passenger was seated. The young man was arrested and charged with Carrying a Pistol without a License in Rhode Island Superior Court (Providence County). The man hired Rhode Island Criminal Defense Lawyer, John L. Calcagni III, to defend him in this matter.
Case Result: Dismissed.
After many months of pretrial negotiations and due to the young man’s immigration consequences, the matter was scheduled for trial. The week before trial, after pointing out flaws in the vehicle search and the errors made by police, Attorney Calcagni and his team persuaded the prosecution to dismiss the case. The matter was then sealed, leaving the young man with a clean record.