Galloway Man Found Guilty of Handgun Possession Outside Casino

Two Atlantic County men, including one from Galloway, have been found guilty of second degree unlawful possession of a handgun outside Bally's Casino following a one-day trial, Atlantic County Prosecutor Ted Housel announced Thursday morning, May 24.

On June 18, 2011, Lemarc Cochran, 26, of Galloway, and Dennis Faulkner, 25, of Atlantic City, were caught on surveillance camera with a gun in the Silver Mercedes, Housel said. Both men entered the car, and Cochran, the driver, opened the glove box, making the gun visible to the camera, according to Housel. Faulkner then placed the gun in his own lap, and the two drove away with the Faulkner's windo rolled down, Housel said.

Security informed the Atlantic City Police Department of what they had just seen, but while police searched for the Mercedes, Cochran and Faulkner returned to the casino, where both men got out of the car and entered Bally's, Housel said.

Shortly thereafter, Cochran left the casino, driving the same Mercedes, and was pulled over by police, who conducted a search of the car, Housel said. According to Housel, Cochran claimed the glove box was broken and couldn't be opened, but when police watched the surveillance footage, they saw the gun in the glove box as well.

Cochran was released, but police impounded his car, pending a search warrant, Housel said. Once the search warrant was in hand, police discovered a .45 caliber semi-automatic pistol in the glove box, Housel said. The two men were arrested on separate dates.

They will be sentenced on June 29, Housel said. Unlawful possession of a handgun is a second degree crime, and carries a five-to-10-year state prison sentence and up to $150,000 in fines, Housel said.