A 74-year-old Wallkill man is facing a stack of weapons charges after state troopers say they uncovered an arsenal in his home, including an AR-15 and a 20-gauge shotgun, following a domestic dispute. The case started last Thursday when troopers responded to a reported domestic disturbance, then later tracked down the man’s vehicle in nearby Shawangunk. He was arraigned in Ulster County and released ahead of a court appearance scheduled for next Monday, May 18.
How Troopers Say It Unfolded
According to state police, troopers were called around 5:12 p.m. and issued a “be on the lookout” for a 2024 Ford F-150. They soon located and stopped the pickup. During the stop, the woman involved in the dispute asked to retrieve some belongings, and troopers accompanied her back to the Wallkill residence. While there, they say an unsecured rifle was sitting in plain view, as reported by Daily Voice.
What Officers Recovered
That visible rifle was apparently just the beginning. A search of the home turned up a DPMS Panther Arms AR-15, a Remington 597 .22 semi-automatic rifle, a Henry Repeating Arms .45-70 rifle, a Mossberg 20-gauge shotgun, a decades-old revolver and three 30-round magazines, according to the New York State Police. Troopers arrested the man and brought him to State Police Highland for processing.
Charges And Court Schedule
"Earl was arrested and transported to State Police Highland without incident for processing," the New York State Police said in their release. He now faces multiple weapons counts, including charges tied to a prior felony conviction, possession of an assault weapon and possession of large-capacity ammunition feeding devices. He is due back in Shawangunk Town Court next Monday, May 18.
Legal Context
Under New York law, Penal Law Article 265 bars people with prior felony convictions from possessing rifles or shotguns and makes possession of assault weapons and large-capacity feeding devices a crime. As outlined by the New York State Senate in NYS Penal Law §265.02, those offenses can be charged as felonies that carry significant penalties if there is a conviction.
Troop F's public information officer is listed in the state police press release as Trooper Jennifer Alvarez, and investigators have asked anyone with information to contact State Police. For now, the case is set to continue in Shawangunk Town Court on May 18.
