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Almost 2 and a half years ago, 23 year-old Darren Dawson, a fruit vendor, was busted by cops with 0.25 Beretta pistol, for which he did not have any licenses. He must now pay a $2,500 for that weapon, or risk being sent to jail.

The incident happened IN September of 2017. An Officer was on motorcycle patrol when they saw a green Mazda car on North Creek Road. He stopped the driver, later identified as Dawson, searched him and found an illegal handgun, which was loaded with 2 live rounds of ammunition. 

He was arraigned back in September 2017, and he initially pleaded not guilty to the offenses, but when his case went back before Magistrate Aretha Ford today, Dawson changed that plea, and accepted guilt. Before sentencing him, Senior Magistrate Ford gave him an opportunity to make a mitigation plea. He told the court that he is the sole bread winner for his 2 children, and that he only just recently began walking again after he was shot in the left leg, which now has a metal plate in it. 

Because he accepted guilt and saved the court’s time and resources, Senior Magistrate Ford sentenced him to pay a fine of $2,500 on or before March 19th, 2019. If he defaults, he will serve 2 years in jail.