Gun and Marijuana Brought into Duval County Courthouse

A Jacksonville man was arrested for trying to bring a gun into the Duval County Courthouse. According to an article on news4jax.com, Timmy Hagans Jr. was caught with a gun and pot while trying to get through the metal detectors at the Jacksonville courthouse. Authorities say Hagans set off the metal detector and security found a Derringer .22-caliber pistol in Hagans’ book bag. Hagans did not have a Florida Concealed Weapons Permit and was arrested for felony carrying a concealed firearm in Jacksonville. This Florida crime is a third degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. Once authorities found the gun, they searched the rest of Hagans’ belongings and found three small baggies of marijuana. In addition to being arrested for the felony weapon charge in Jacksonville, Hagans was also arrested for the possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana charge in Jacksonville. The pot charge in Jacksonville is a misdemeanor in Florida punishable by up to one year in jail.

Carrying a Concealed Firearm is a felony in Florida and the law can be found at 790.01, Florida Statutes. To be convicted of this gun crime in Jacksonville and all of Florida, the gun has to be concealed. In order to be considered “concealed”, the firearm must be carried on or near your body in such a was as to conceal it from the ordinary sight of others. A firearm is defined under Florida law as any weapon that can, is designed to, or can be quickly converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive. In addition to concealing the firearm, the gun has to be “readily accessible for immediate use”. This means that it is carried on your person or is so close to you that you can retrieve it and use it as easily as you could if it was actually on your person.

It is important to discuss your rights with an Experienced Northeast Florida Gun Crimes Attorney if you are facing a gun charge in Duval County, Clay County, or Nassau County. The state attorney’s office, the office that is in charge of prosecuting crimes in Northeast Florida, takes all weapon charges very seriously. Many gun crimes in Florida carry minimum mandatory sentences and that is why it is so critical to get consider all of your options.