WILMINGTON, N.C. – A Wilmington man was sentenced today to 92 months in prison for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, James Edward Clarida, Jr., 29, was indicted in May 2019, for possession of a firearm by felon. On March 31, 2019, Clarida was the passenger in a car that was stopped for a traffic violation by officers with the Wilmington Police Department. As the car came to a stop, Clarida jumped from the car and ran from officers. An officer immediately ran after Clarida. During the foot pursuit, Clarida turned and pointed a handgun at the officer. The officer took cover behind a parked vehicle and lost sight of Clarida. Other officers responded to the area and, with the assistance of the K9 unit, tracked Clarida, who was hiding under a nearby residence. He was placed under arrest and the path of Clarida’s flight was searched. Officers located a loaded .45 caliber handgun along that path. Clarida was a convicted felon at the time of his possession of the firearm.
Robert J. Higdon, Jr., U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Richard E. Myers II. The Wilmington Police Department along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms investigated the case and Assistant U.S. Attorney Charity Wilson prosecuted the case.
Related court documents and information can be found on the website of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina or on PACER by searching for Case No. 7:19-CR-91-M.
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