Durham man admits weapons offense

PORTLAND – A Durham man admitted Wednesday to possessing a gun despite being prohibited from doing so due to a previous domestic violence conviction.

Richard Leblond, 51, pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court to possession of a firearm by an unauthorized person, a crime punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

According to prosecutors, a deputy with the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office served Leblond with a temporary restraining order protecting him from abuse at his Durham home on April 9.

As part of the order, Leblond was ordered to hand over all weapons in his possession.

Leblond told the deputy that he owned several weapons and agreed to a search of his home, prosecutors said.

During the search, investigators found more than a dozen handguns, pistols, rifles and shotguns, all of which came from two gun cabinets in Leblond's home, prosecutors said.

Because Leblond was convicted of domestic violence in Lewiston in 2009, he was legally prohibited from owning a gun.

No date has yet been set for the verdict.

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