David Barabin
An Atlantic City man accused of having several weapons and nearly 300 bullets during a car stop was ordered held in jail Tuesday.
David Barabin, 47, was arrested just after 2 a.m. Friday, during a stop by Officer Moustafa Maarouf in the first block of South Florida Avenue, according to the charges.
A K-9 team was brought in after the officer saw a white powdery substance on Barabin's jacket, Capt. Kevin Fair said.
Officer Robert Reynolds' partner, Carlo, indicated there were drugs in the vehicle.
The search found not only suspected heroin, but seven handguns, three revolver handles and various parts to build weapons, a receipt in his name ordering a revolver cylinder, a pamphlet on how to build a revolver, 149 bullets, 85 ball ammunition and 64 9mm ammunition, according to the charges.
There also allegedly were several knives.
Barabin, who has a criminal history including drugs and weapons, includes "a pattern of obstructionist behavior," Assistant Prosecutor Nicholas Drobuniku told the judge.
"It's worrisome to the state to think of what these various weapons and devices would have potentially been used for had this motor vehicle stop not occurred," he added. "The defendant's possession of handguns, ammunition-related weapon parts and implements to build said weapons would have undoubtedly contributed to the violence occurring in the streets of Atlantic City, as well as potentially other areas of Atlantic County."
Barabin faces 22 charges, including eight for possession of weapon by a convicted person.
But Barabin maintains the parts were antique pieces that he collects, defense attorney Brooke Zelig said.
She said he has remained law-abiding for quite some time, with court records showing his most recently prior criminal history in 2012 for unlawful possession of a weapon, for which he was sentenced to three years without parole.
He also works security for rooming houses, Zelig said.
Judge Dorothy Garrabrant ordered him held, pointing to a mostly unlawful life with a criminal history dating 27 years, and continuing "mostly unabated."
"The defendant has assembled an arsenal," she said.
Barabin will remain in the Atlantic County Justice Facility pending the outcome of his case.
