NEW BETHLEHEM – A 58-year-old New Bethlehem man was charged with illegally possessing a firearm at a Lafayette Street home in the borough on Jan. 20.
Brian Ashley Leonard was charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited from doing so.
Southern Clarion County Regional Police Officer Stephen Mazik was dispatched to a domestic disturbance with a possible weapon involved.
At the scene, police said they met Stacy Leonard who said Brian Leonard was in the house and had a handgun which she did not want in the residence.
After searching Brian Leonard, police reportedly found a fully loaded Taurus 9mm gun under a couch cushion. The gun had two magazines with 21 rounds total.
When asked, Leonard advised police there was also a shotgun in an upstairs closet, which police said was fully loaded with five rounds total.
Police said Brian Leonard is not allowed to possess a handgun due to a prior felony in a case out of Mercer County.
The charge was filed with District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller on Feb. 26.