PaulR
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Credit: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Easthampton couple arraigned on gun charges
NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton couple pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that they illegally possessed large-capacity and assault weapons in a case that has involved federal authorities and three police departments across the state.
Hiram Rodriguez Jr., 45, was arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court on charges of unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of an assault weapon, conspiracy, unlawful possession of ammunition and eight counts of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device.
Cherie A. Rodriguez, 44, pleaded not guilty later to charges of unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of an assault weapon, conspiracy, concealing evidence and misleading police.
The couple, of 1 Maxine Circle, were released on personal recognizance with conditions. A third person is named in the conspiracy charge but no charges have been brought against him.
Easthampton Police first learned of possible concerns with the Rodriguezes’ gun possession in August and September 2017 after being contacted by Boston Police about two handguns that had been reported stolen from Hiram Rodriguez’s vehicle on Aug. 6. Boston Police told Easthampton officers that there was no forced entry or damage to the vehicle and there was no damage to the lockbox that the guns were reportedly secured in, according to a report by Easthampton PoliceDetective Nicholas Weidhaas III.
Easthampton Police were then contacted by the Acushnet Police Department on Sept. 7 regarding an incident in which Rodriguez was alleged to have stolen a rifle scope from a gun shop in Acushnet, Weidhaas wrote.
Rodriguez allegedly admitted to police he stole the scope and was having mental health issues, had not taken his prescribed medication and was contemplating suicide, Weidhass wrote. Police issued a suspension of Rodriguez’s license to carry, based on his suicidal statements, Weidhaas wrote.
According to court documents, seven of the 13 firearms registered to the couple were not accounted for when police searched their residence Sept. 20. One gun, a 9 mm Sig Sauer, was recovered by the Boston Police Department on Aug. 25 during the arrest of another man. Police said the gun was not reported stolen or missing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was contacted by local police to research the firearms.
During the police visit Sept. 20, Cherie Rodriguez was surprised when told her husband never reported the Sig Sauer missing, Weidhaas wrote. She was also questioned at the police station.
While speaking with officers, Hiram Rodriguez unlocked multiple gun cabinets in his bedroom’s closet. There, officers found multiple 30-round-capacity magazines for an AR-15-style rifle that were not pre-ban magazines and are illegal to possess in Massachusetts, even if the possessor has a license to carry, Weidhaas wrote.
Rodriguez told police he forgot they were in the safe and thought he had “pre-bans,” or magazines manufactured prior to September 1994, according to the report. Rodriguez was alleged to have conducted five personal firearms sales in 2016 and again in 2017, but state law only allows up to four personal transfers during a calendar year.
In court Tuesday, both Hiram and Cherie Rodriguez had court-appointed attorneys at their respective arraignments but it is unclear whether they qualified as indigent. Hiram Rodriguez was represented by attorney Alan Rubin. Cherie Rodriguez was represented by attorney Alfred Chamberland.
The two are scheduled to appear in court on June 22 for a clarification of counsel hearing.
Emily Cutts can be reached at [email protected].
Easthampton couple arraigned on gun charges
NORTHAMPTON — An Easthampton couple pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges that they illegally possessed large-capacity and assault weapons in a case that has involved federal authorities and three police departments across the state.
Hiram Rodriguez Jr., 45, was arraigned in Hampshire Superior Court on charges of unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of an assault weapon, conspiracy, unlawful possession of ammunition and eight counts of unlawful possession of a large-capacity feeding device.
Cherie A. Rodriguez, 44, pleaded not guilty later to charges of unlawful possession of a large-capacity weapon, unlawful possession of an assault weapon, conspiracy, concealing evidence and misleading police.
The couple, of 1 Maxine Circle, were released on personal recognizance with conditions. A third person is named in the conspiracy charge but no charges have been brought against him.
Easthampton Police first learned of possible concerns with the Rodriguezes’ gun possession in August and September 2017 after being contacted by Boston Police about two handguns that had been reported stolen from Hiram Rodriguez’s vehicle on Aug. 6. Boston Police told Easthampton officers that there was no forced entry or damage to the vehicle and there was no damage to the lockbox that the guns were reportedly secured in, according to a report by Easthampton PoliceDetective Nicholas Weidhaas III.
Easthampton Police were then contacted by the Acushnet Police Department on Sept. 7 regarding an incident in which Rodriguez was alleged to have stolen a rifle scope from a gun shop in Acushnet, Weidhaas wrote.
Rodriguez allegedly admitted to police he stole the scope and was having mental health issues, had not taken his prescribed medication and was contemplating suicide, Weidhass wrote. Police issued a suspension of Rodriguez’s license to carry, based on his suicidal statements, Weidhaas wrote.
According to court documents, seven of the 13 firearms registered to the couple were not accounted for when police searched their residence Sept. 20. One gun, a 9 mm Sig Sauer, was recovered by the Boston Police Department on Aug. 25 during the arrest of another man. Police said the gun was not reported stolen or missing.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was contacted by local police to research the firearms.
During the police visit Sept. 20, Cherie Rodriguez was surprised when told her husband never reported the Sig Sauer missing, Weidhaas wrote. She was also questioned at the police station.
While speaking with officers, Hiram Rodriguez unlocked multiple gun cabinets in his bedroom’s closet. There, officers found multiple 30-round-capacity magazines for an AR-15-style rifle that were not pre-ban magazines and are illegal to possess in Massachusetts, even if the possessor has a license to carry, Weidhaas wrote.
Rodriguez told police he forgot they were in the safe and thought he had “pre-bans,” or magazines manufactured prior to September 1994, according to the report. Rodriguez was alleged to have conducted five personal firearms sales in 2016 and again in 2017, but state law only allows up to four personal transfers during a calendar year.
In court Tuesday, both Hiram and Cherie Rodriguez had court-appointed attorneys at their respective arraignments but it is unclear whether they qualified as indigent. Hiram Rodriguez was represented by attorney Alan Rubin. Cherie Rodriguez was represented by attorney Alfred Chamberland.
The two are scheduled to appear in court on June 22 for a clarification of counsel hearing.
Emily Cutts can be reached at [email protected].
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