On Thursday, July 20, 2023, Carelton Priester, 34, of Trenton, NJ was
sentenced to five years of probation for second-degree Unlawful Possession of a Handgun over the State’s objection.
Priester originally pleaded guilty on Tuesday, April 11, 2023. The agreed upon sentence
recommendation between the parties was three-years in New Jersey State Prison, with a one-
year period of parole ineligibility. At today’s sentencing, the defendant requested that he
instead receive a probationary sentence since he is the sole caregiver for his young child and
the caregiver for his grandmother.
On August 10, 2021, the New Jersey State Police conducted a motor-vehicle stop on a 2010
black Volvo XC60, which was observed speeding on the Atlantic City Expressway in Hamilton Township, with three occupants, one of which was Priester. Priester had an active arrest warrant and was subsequently taken into custody. A search of the
vehicle uncovered a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber handgun, loaded with seven hollow-point
rounds, under the front passenger seat. Ultimately, Priester admitted to possession and
ownership of the handgun. The handgun was subsequently found to be stolen out of North
Carolina.