Couple faces felony charges after deputies find weapons cache

MARLBORO, N.Y. » A Marlboro couple was arrested Friday and a cache of weapons was seized at their U.S. Route 9W residence following an investigation involving several Ulster County police agencies, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office reported late Saturday.

The investigation began when Marlboro police received a tip that a woman was trying to sell an unregistered .44-caliber handgun. Leasha Ladow, 49, of Marlboro, was located with the gun in Milton, deputies said.

The Ulster Regional Gang Enforcement Narcotics Team was notified and investigation led to execution of a search warrant at a Route 9W residence she shared with Aaron Busch, 34, deputies said.

Police found five unregistered handguns, four shotguns, a knife, two metal knuckle knives, a switchblade knife, and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition, deputies said.

When Busch came home during the police search, he fled, but was apprehended, deputies said.

Ladow was charged with criminal sale of a firearm, criminal Possession of a weapon, and five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, all felonies, and three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanors, deputies said.

Busch was charged with criminal possession of a weapon, five counts of criminal possession of a firearm, all felonies, and

three counts of criminal possession of a weapon, misdemeanor, deputies said.

The defendants may face additional charges as the origin of all the firearms is confirmed, deputies said.

Both suspects were taken to Ulster County Jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond.