MORRIS COUNTY — Morris County Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp announces that on March 20, a Morris County jury found Mr. Robert B. Wiggins, 33, Hamden, Connecticut, guilty of Unlawful Possession of a Handgun, and due to a previous conviction for burglary, he was also found guilty for being a Certain Person Not to Possess a Weapon, both second degree crimes.
He was subsequently remanded to the Morris County Correctional Facility pending sentencing.
At sentencing, the defendant may be subject to a discretionary extended term and thus, he could face up to a total of thirty years in New Jersey State Prison with up to fifteen years being served without the possibility of parole.
The incident occurred on October 19, 2017, when members of the Riverdale Borough Police Department conducted a motor vehicle stop on Wiggins’ vehicle on Interstate 287, North Exit 53. Officers smelled the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle, and subsequently searched the vehicle.
They located a loaded Cobra Patriot 9mm handgun in the glove compartment. Marijuana was also located in the vehicle.
While interviewing Wiggins, he admitted to Officers that the handgun and marijuana belonged to him. Moreover, during the investigation, it was learned that he had a prior conviction for burglary, which barred him from possessing any weapons in the State of New Jersey.
Assistant Prosecutor Sean P. Gaynor, Esq. and Assistant Prosecutor Reema Kareer, Esq., who are both assigned to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office General Investigations Unit, represented the State during the trial. Law enforcement personnel from the Riverdale Borough Police Department, the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, and the New Jersey State Police all testified during the trial.
The Honorable Donald G. Collester presided over the trial, and will sentence Wiggins in May 1.
Prosecutor Knapp extends his gratitude to all law enforcement personnel who contributed during the investigation and provided testimony in Court, and to the Assistant Prosecutors for their tenacity during the trial.
“From initial contact with the defendant to his conviction of the defendant at trial, this is an excellent display of cohesive teamwork demonstrated by Law Enforcement Officers and Assistant Prosecutors”, stated Prosecutor Knapp. “Justice was served”, he said.
