Beacon Man Faces Felony Weapon Charge
Putnam County Sheriff Donald B. Smith reports the arrest of a Beacon man on a felony weapon possession charge following a traffic stop in the Town of Philipstown.
On January 11, 2016 at approximately 7:15 p.m., Deputy Sheriff Brian Aisenstat stopped a motorist who had committed traffic violations on Route 9 in the Town of Philipstown. The deputy determined that the suspect’s unregistered vehicle was last registered in the State of Delaware but was bearing Ohio license plates that belonged to another vehicle. The deputy further determined that the driver, later identified as Tavon S. Luster, 20, of 46 Lydia Drive, Beacon had provided the deputy with a driver’s license bearing the name of another person and had verbally represented himself to the deputy with that false identity. The deputy arrested Mr. Luster and charged him with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree and with Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, misdemeanors; Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, a violation; and numerous traffic violations. While conducting an inventory search of the vehicle pursuant to the arrest, the deputy located an unregistered 9mm semiautomatic pistol underneath the driver seat. The weapon was fully loaded with a 13 round magazine and an additional round in the chamber with the safety off. Mr. Luster admitted that the handgun belonged to him and had been in his possession for over a year. The deputy additionally charged Mr. Luster with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a felony; and with Unlawful Possession of Certain Ammunition Feeding Devices, a misdemeanor. The defendant was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.
On January 12, 2016, the defendant was arraigned by Town of Putnam Valley Justice Gina Capone and committed to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000.00 cash bail or $50,000.00 bond pending a future appearance in the Town of Philipstown Justice Court.
If found guilty of the felony charge, the defendant could face up to fifteen years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $15,000.00.
