Police say they found loaded semiautomatic during traffic stop
A Putnam County Sheriff’s deputy arrested a Beacon man on Jan. 11 after a traffic stop in Philipstown on a felony weapon charges.
Deputy Sheriff Brian Aisenstat stopped Tavon S. Luster, 20, of 46 Lydia Drive, Beacon, at about 7:15 p.m. after observing traffic violations on Route 9. The deputy determined that the vehicle was unregistered, having last been registered in Delaware but bearing Ohio plates that belonged to another vehicle. Police say Luster gave the deputy a license bearing the name of another person and claimed he was that person.
While conducting a search of the vehicle, Aisenstat located an unregistered 9mm semiautomatic pistol underneath the driver’s seat. The weapon was fully loaded with a 13-round magazine and an additional round in the chamber, with the safety off. Police say Luster admitted the handgun belonged to him and had been in his possession for more than a year.
Luster was charged with Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a felony; and with Unlawful Possession of Certain Ammunition Feeding Devices, a misdemeanor. He also was charged with Aggravated Unlicensed Operation of a Motor Vehicle in the Third Degree and Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree, both misdemeanors; Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle, a violation; and numerous traffic violations.
The defendant was processed at the Putnam County Correctional Facility and held pending arraignment.
On January 12, Luster was arraigned by Town of Putnam Valley Justice Gina Capone and committed to the Putnam County Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 cash bail or $50,000 bond pending an appearance in the Town of Philipstown Justice Court. If found guilty of the felony charge, the defendant could face up to fifteen years in a New York State Correctional Facility and a fine of up to $15,000.
