29 year old Dashawn Stotts of Atlantic City pleaded guilty this week to unlawful possession of a
handgun without a permit. Under the terms of his plea agreement, Stotts is expected to be
sentenced to five years in New Jersey State Prison. On December 11, 2022, Atlantic City Police located a gray Ford Explorer left running with no occupant inside. Stotts approached police and identified himself as the owner of the vehicle. A
K-9 Officer conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle and subsequently made a positive
indication for narcotics. Officers conducted a search of the vehicle and located heroin, crack
cocaine, oxycodone and marijuana. In addition to locating the narcotics, law enforcement
located a Smith & Wesson handgun. The firearm was discovered to be stolen. Mr. Stotts did
not have a lawful permit to possess, own, or carry a handgun.