A Trenton man was sentenced to five years of probation for possession of a stolen handgun found during a car stop on the Atlantic City Expressway.
Carelton Priester, 34, will see no prison time despite the state's objections.
State Police stopped a vehicle on the expressway Aug. 10, 2021, when it was caught speeding eastbound near milepost 23.2 in Hamilton Township, according to the Atlantic County Prosecutor's Office.
Priester was one of three occupants in the black Volvo XC60.
He had an active arrest warrant and the time and was placed in custody, according to the account.
A Smith & Wesson .40-caliber handgun loaded with seven hollow-point rounds was found under the front passenger seat.
Priester ultimately took responsibility for the gun, which was later found to be stolen out of North Carolina.
But at sentencing Thursday, the defense asked for a probationary sentence since he is the sole caregiver for his young child and the caregiver for his grandmother.
The state plans to appeal the sentence.
