Texas Man Charged with Gun, Ammunition Offenses After Traffic Stop

BOSTON, July 25, 2017— Two Texas men were arraigned yesterday on a variety of charges after a gun, a pair of nunchucks, a large quantity of ammunition, and a small amount of cocaine were found during a motor vehicle stop, Suffolk County District Attorney Daniel F. Conley said.

RORY WELSH (D.O.B. 4/17/92) of San Antonio, Texas, was arraigned yesterday in Roxbury Municipal Court on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of ammunition, possession of a large capacity firearm, improper storage of a firearm, and unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.  He was also cited for failure to use headlights at night.  JONATHAN WASHINGTON (D.O.B. 6/5/84) of Corpus Christi, Texas, was arraigned on charges of carrying a dangerous weapon and possession of a Class B substance.  Prosecutors requested bail of $20,000 for Welsh and $1,000 for Washington; Judge David Weingarten imposed $7,500 bail for Welsh and $300 for Washington.

According to prosecutors, State Police in the area of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard observed a Ford Fusion operating without headlights on at 12:02 a.m. Monday.  The trooper activated his marked cruiser’s lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the operator allegedly continued to drive several hundred feet before stopping on Hampden Street.

The operator, later identified as Welsh, allegedly told police he was driving on a learner’s permit and did not have a license or ID.  He instead gave the trooper a driver’s license belonging to the vehicle’s front seat passenger, Washington.  The trooper observed that Welsh, Washington, and a rear seat passenger all appeared extremely nervous.

Welsh was asked to exit the vehicle while police sought to confirm his identity.  As he stepped out of the car, police observed a 9mm Glock handgun under the driver’s seat, prosecutors said.  Welsh, who allegedly told police the gun belonged to him, was taken into custody and his passengers were removed from the car by additional State and Boston police.

During a search of the vehicle incident to Welsh’s arrest, police located two loaded high-capacity magazines; a third unloaded high-capacity magazine; 163 rounds of handgun, shotgun, and rifle ammunition; and a set of nunchucks that were located between the center console and passenger’s seat where Washington had been seated, prosecutors said. 

Washington allegedly claimed ownership of the nunchucks and was found to have a small plastic bag containing cocaine in wallet, prosecutors said.

The rear seat passenger, an adult male, was released without charges.

Both defendants return to court Aug. 9.

 

–30–

 

All defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.