NL MAN ACCUSED OF VIOLATING PROBATION, WEAPONS CHARGES

A New London man went to a meeting with his probation officer in December and admitted having a loaded pistol in his trunk and a large amount of marijuana at his home, according to police.

John Fleming, 32, of 72 West St., was on probation for a 2018 domestic violence conviction, having received a full suspended prison sentence and one year of probation for second-degree breach of peace.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, when Fleming reported to his scheduled meeting at the New London Office of Adult Probation on Dec. 9, 2019, he became nervous when a probation officer and police questioned him about a high-speed pursuit on Dec. 1. The operator of the car wasn’t apprehended, but when police checked the registration, it came back to Fleming.

Fleming denied operating the vehicle, but admitted to having a pistol in the trunk of his car and a large amount of marijuana at home. Officers recovered the loaded semi-automatic handgun in his car. They searched his residence, finding a second pistol, 1.5 pounds of marijuana, packaging materials, ammunition and two 14-round magazines.

Fleming is charged with violation of probation, two counts of criminal possession of a pistol, two counts of illegal possession of a large capacity magazine, two counts of stealing a firearm, possession of a more than a halfounce of marijuana, possession of marijuana with intent to sell and use of drug paraphernalia.

He is free on a $250,000 bond and has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He is next due in court on March 6.