NORRISTOWN — A Philadelphia man is awaiting sentencing after he admitted to illegally possessing a gun after it was found in a vehicle linked to him and parked in a parking lot of a hotel in Lower Merion Township.
Delshawn Markeese Compton, 33, of the 200 block of East Haines Street, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a felony charge of person not to possess a firearm in connection with the Aug. 10, 2024, incident in the Bala Cynwyd section of Lower Merion.
Judge Risa Vetri Ferman deferred sentencing so that court officials can complete a background investigation report about Compton, who will undergo drug and alcohol evaluations.
Compton faces a possible maximum sentence of 3 to 7 years in prison on the charge.
Compton remains free on bail pending his sentencing hearing.
The investigation began about 1:52 a.m. Aug. 10, 2024, when Lower Merion police, while patrolling the area near the Residence Inn in the 600 block of Righters Ferry Road “due to an increase in vehicle thefts,” spotted a suspicious white Ford Taurus with tinted windows in the parking lot, according to a criminal complaint filed by Lower Merion Detective James Black.
As the officer entered the parking lot, the Taurus quickly exited and traveled south on Righters Ferry Road, where police lost sight of it, according to court papers.
At 4:07 a.m., police returned to the parking lot and once again observed the Ford Taurus, parked and unoccupied, at the location. Police noticed the vehicle displayed a temporary registration and determined it was a fraudulent registration plate. When police researched the vehicle identification number, they discovered it had been reported stolen out of Cheltenham Township, according to the arrest affidavit.
Police contacted a towing company to remove the vehicle and, prior to towing it, police observed a black semiautomatic pistol in plain view on the floor of the front driver’s side, according to the criminal complaint.
The firearm was seized and identified as a Polymer80 handgun, or ghost gun.
“The firearm was loaded with a full magazine,” Black alleged.
During a search of the vehicle, police also found a wallet that contained a learner’s permit and multiple debit and credit cards belonging to Compton. A small bag of marijuana was found next to the wallet in the center console, according to court documents.
“Through subsequent investigation, it was determined that Delshawn Compton was the operator of the Ford Taurus and had parked it in the lot of the Residence Inn,” Black alleged.
The investigation determined that Compton had a criminal history that prohibited him from possessing a firearm, detectives alleged.
Other charges of receiving stolen property, carrying a firearm without a license, unauthorized use of an automobile, driving under suspension, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia are slated to be dismissed against Compton at the time of sentencing.
Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle is handling the case. Defense lawyer Abigail Silverman Leeds represented Compton during the court proceedings.