Man admits to having ghost gun

Christopher Martin Gring of North Wales awaits sentencing

NORRISTOWN >> A North Wales man is in jail awaiting his fate from a judge after he admitted to illegally possessing a ghost gun during a traffic stop in Montgomery Township.

Christopher Martin Gring, 39, of the 200 block of Elm Avenue, pleaded guilty in Montgomery County Court to a misdemeanor charge of possession of a prohibited weapon in connection with a July 2022 incident.

The open plea means Gring has no deals with prosecutors regarding his potential sentence.

Judge Steven T. O’Neill deferred sentencing so that Gring can undergo a presentence investigation, including drug and alcohol evaluations.

Gring faces a possible maximum sentence of 2½ to 5 years in prison on the charge.

The investigation began about 11:54 p.m. July 26, when Montgomery Township police conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle, in which Gring was a front seat passenger, on a parking lot in the 600 block of Bethlehem Pike, according to a criminal complaint filed by Montgomery Township Police Officer Nicholas Eufrasio.

Police said they seized drug paraphernalia from the driver of the Chevrolet Camaro.

“The passenger, Christopher Gring, was non-compliant. He disobeyed commands, made unnatural movements around the vehicle and had to be physically removed from the vehicle at Taser point,” Eufrasio alleged in the arrest affidavit, adding officers observed the handle of a firearm under Gring’s seat.

When police searched the vehicle, they found a loaded P80 handgun, with a laser sight attached to the frame and no serial number, under the passenger seat, according to court papers. One hollow point round was found in the weapon’s chamber and one 16-round magazine was inserted in the gun, including four live rounds.

“It should be noted that this P80 handgun is also known as a ‘ghost gun.’ Ghost guns are privately made firearms that are available to be bought without a background check. Ghost guns are unserialized, rendering the weapon untraceable,” Eufrasio alleged.

“It should be noted that Mr. Gring does not have a permit to carry a firearm,” Eufrasio added.

Police also found two sandwich bags containing suspected crystal methamphetamine on the rear passenger side floorboard, according to court papers.

Assistant District Attorney Courtney McMonagle handled the case. Defense lawyer George Griffith Jr. represented Gring.

Other charges of carrying a firearm without a license, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia are slated to be dismissed against Gring at a sentencing later this year.