NORRISTOWN — A Philadelphia man’s involvement in a vehicle crash in Plymouth Township ended with his being charged with illegally carrying a firearm and a jail term.
Abdullah Yusef Hawkins, 52, of the 5800 block of North Marshall Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 11½ to 23 months in the county jail after he pleaded guilty to a felony charge of person not to possess a firearm in connection with a July 14, 2025, incident that unfolded at Ridge Pike and Alan Wood Road in Plymouth Township.
Judge Risa Vetri Ferman imposed the sentence and added that Hawkins will be eligible for the jail’s work release program.
The investigation began about 5:24 a.m. July 14, when Plymouth Township police responded to the intersection for a report of a two-vehicle crash.
Hawkins was operating a Toyota Camry that was involved in the crash and which was disabled due to the crash, according to a criminal complaint filed by Plymouth Township Police Officer George Cornick.
“Consequently, police offered Hawkins a ride to his job, which he accepted,” Cornick alleged in the arrest affidavit.
As is standard procedure, officers asked Hawkins if he had any weapons on him prior to allowing him to enter the police vehicle. Hawkins denied having weapons but consented to a pat-down, court documents indicate.
During the pat-down, an officer felt an object in Hawkins’ front pants pocket, which he believed was a firearm. When asked about the object, Hawkins initially claimed it was his wallet, according to court papers.
“He then admitted it was a gun,” Cornick alleged, adding that the officer retrieved the firearm, a silver Smith & Wesson .38-caliber revolver that was loaded with five rounds.
Hawkins claimed that the firearm belonged to a girlfriend and that he didn’t want to leave it in his vehicle while it was towed from the crash scene.
But when police checked law enforcement databases, they determined Hawkins did not have a permit to carry a firearm.
Police alleged Hawkins also had a previous felony drug conviction in New Jersey that prohibited him from possessing or being in control of a firearm.
The charge of carrying a firearm without a license was dismissed against Hawkins.
Assistant District Attorney Libby Ann Hemler handled the case. Defense lawyer Ryan Geib represented Hawkins during the court proceedings.