Atlantic City man released after admitting to gun charge

A former Egg Harbor City man was released pending sentencing after admitting to possession of a handgun in Atlantic City.

Dashawn Stotts, now 29, was arrested Dec. 11, after police found a stolen handgun and drugs inside a vehicle he left unattended and running.

Atlantic City Police Officer Ivan Cruz spotted the vehicle in the 1700 block of Atlantic Avenue when he spotted the unattended car idling and found it was not registered, according to the initial report.

Stotts returned to the area and identified himself as the driver. Officer Jesse Oliver-Logan and his K-9 partner, Gee, responded, with the dog giving a positive indication of drugs inside the vehicle, police said at the time.

A search led to a stolen handgun along with a 8 grams of suspected crack cocaine, one wax fold of suspected heroin, 29 oxycodone pills, prescription codeine pills, 39 grams of marijuana and $500 in cash believed to be from drug sales.

He faces five years in prison under the plea agreement, with 3½ years of parole ineligibility.

The narcotics offenses were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.

Stotts was released pending sentencing, despite the state's objection. He is scheduled to be sentenced Jan. 5.